India’s Sorbitan Monostearate market softened in January 2026, as seasonal soft offtake and comfortable supply allowed buyers to defer large purchases. Early January saw domestic producers run steadily, and imports from China sustained availability, while mid-to-late month activity shifted to small replenishment as procurement managers adopted a wait-and-watch stance. Downstream users front-loading stocks before December drew inventories rather than issuing large new tenders, leaving activity subdued across end-use segments. Demand weakness was concentrated in food and personal-care channels, while pharmaceuticals remained routine. Bakery, confectionery, and processed-food segments slowed fresh tenders for emulsifiers and weighed on consumption; personal-care formulators likewise limited call-offs for cosmetic emulsions. Pharmaceuticals continued routine purchases for ointment bases, but volumes did not fully offset softer food-sector pulls. Imports still covered some parts of the demand, and spot assessments edged lower across the month. Near-term downside risk through February and March persists, with a modest recovery expected later in the quarter on selective restocking.
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.
