Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) prices in the USA surged sharply in early March 2026, rising about 3.5% for the week ending 8 March from late-February. The rally was driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, including the US airstrikes on Iran, missile attacks, and intermittent port closures, which disrupted global crude oil flows, the primary feedstock for paraxylene and PTA production. Logistical disruptions compounded supply pressures. Major shipping lines such as Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd rerouted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10–14 days to transit times, while war-risk surcharges of USD 2,000–3,000 per TEU/FEU elevated delivered freight. These factors tightened available vessel capacity and reversed the post-Lunar New Year shipping softness. Downstream demand remained selective, with PET, flexible packaging, and polyester resin converters limiting purchases to essential volumes. PTA prices are expected to remain firm and sensitive to crude, paraxylene supply, and geopolitical developments.
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.
