Iso butanol markets firmed through February and into early March as upstream cost pressure and restocking activity tightened supply. Early February was subdued, with limited movement, while mid-month activity remained range-bound amid normal operating rates. Late February saw higher propylene quotations and persistent Gulf Coast logistics congestion shift sentiment, prompting suppliers to lift offers and buyers to replenish inventories. The uptrend extended into early March, reinforcing a bullish tone across spot markets and narrowing bid-ask gaps as participants priced firmer inputs and constrained logistics. Month-end behavior showed divergent demand drivers across the value chain: downstream restocking supported activity after a period of muted procurement mid-month. Market assessment indicates momentum supported by restocking and steady operations, even as upstream cost signals and logistic bottlenecks kept Iso Butanol prompt availability tight.
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.
