Aniline prices in the European market surged in January 2026 as manufacturers were under pressure from rising costs and tight supply. Production remained subdued as manufacturers were cautious, mainly due to increasing feedstock benzene costs and energy prices. Tensions around the world also put upward pressure on the price of crude oil. As the supply was already scarce, these higher costs were passed on to buyers, and pushed the Aniline price. European trade was decent but slow, exports are weak, and intra-EU trade is limited due to high costs and soft demand worldwide. Demand for Aniline remained steady but cautious, with the most support coming from the MDI industry, particularly rigid foam used in insulation and construction. But more moderate buying came as winter weather and the pace of construction slowed. Aniline prices are predicted to decline towards the end of Q1 2026 as demand softens, logistics normalise, and production costs ease with improved benzene supply and cracker operations.
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.
