USA sodium nitrate markets declined sharply toward the end of February 2026 as ample domestic supply and muted cost drivers eased earlier upward pressure. Early-month strength gave way to mid-month consolidation, with buyers taking a wait-and-watch stance and spot activity thinning, allowing offers to slip. While sodium nitrate is not directly linked to crude oil, its feedstock, nitric acid, is sensitive to energy costs. Rising crude oil and natural gas benchmarks amid ongoing Middle East tensions have modestly influenced upstream production costs. Improved domestic plant availability and routine logistics added market length, while recent federal guidance on import duties introduced policy risk that buyers are factoring into sourcing decisions. Overall demand softened, though food-grade demand remained resilient, and the cured-meat segment showed steady usage. Trading houses and some distributors pulled back, reducing immediate bidding pressure. Spot prices eased markedly, suggesting further softening ahead, with potential localized cost volatility from elevated energy benchmarks linked to the conflict.
Selenis has effectively manufactured recycled PET chips using terephthalic acid sourced from Circ®, a textile-to-textile recycler based in Virginia. The chip production took place through a series of batches at Selenis' pilot plant in San-Giorgio, Italy. By utilizing inputs recovered from polycotton textile waste, Selenis has created high-quality PET chip, which has been further processed into DTY yarn. This yarn will play a crucial role in product development as Circ prepares for additional capsule launches. Selenis is leveraging the success of this initial collaboration phase and is committed to advancing towards an offtake partnership to support Circ's inaugural industrial facility.
Eduardo Santos, Head of Corporate Strategy at Selenis, remarked that the monomer synthesis showed a performance comparable to virgin terephthalic acid. He expressed optimism about the consistent quality of Circ's monomer output and anticipated future commercial success. Santos pointed out that the Circ partnership complements Selenis's existing mission and goals for a more sustainable textile industry. He further stated their anticipation of expanding upon this collaboration and providing support for Circ's forthcoming commercial production trials.
