US EPDM rubber markets traded softer in the first weekly assessment of July, following a marginal June uptick. Through June, activity was range-bound with steady procurement, easing slightly in mid-month as supply and demand remained balanced, and then settling into a calm end of month. The week ended early July saw a pronounced weekly drop that cooled recent gains and prompted buyers to review forward coverage and spot availability. Downstream demand was mixed: overall steady with a modest mid-month softening in some segments. Commercial-grade trading demonstrated a modest monthly uptick in June, while ENB-containing spot grades registered significantly higher levels, underscoring a split between generalized EPDM sales and specialty grades. June supply operated at normal rates with broadly stable inventories and unchanged input costs in the period, and no material production outages were reported. Looking ahead, market structure appears balanced: steady operating rates and stable feedstock inputs should limit shocks, though episodic volatility remains a consideration for procurement planning.
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.
