US caustic potash prices surged by the week ending March 27, 2026, up 4.2% from early March, driven by the ongoing war in Iran. The conflict has disrupted key shipping lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz, increasing global energy and shipping costs, while domestic production faces tighter merchant sentiment. Strong demand from fertilizer blenders and the agrochemical sector ahead of the April–May planting window further supported prices. Although domestic chlor-alkali units remain stable, geopolitical risks and rising costs continue to pressure the market. Analysts expect a near-term stable trend, with potential upside if the war escalates.
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.
