In July 2025, the global BDO market seems price-stable, but it is heading into deeper turbulence. China is in excess of inventory, downstream demand has been muted, and spot trading languishes, contributing to a supply overhang that is affecting trade routes in all parts of the world. India has maintained balanced demand and supply, while Europe has had to grapple with freight costs and diverging sector-specific demand. In addition, the U.S. is moving forward with the world’s largest Bio-BDO plant, indicating a transition to more sustainable production. All the while, freight congestion, floods in Jiangsu, and weak demand for downstream PBT are disguised under the surface; the market seems steady—but pressure is building.
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.
