US Sodium Bicarbonate markets softened into late February after a period of sideways trading, ending the month on a softer note. Early February activity featured stable import flows and steady food-sector buying, but the trading week brought a marked pullback and a shift toward caution. Participants cited balanced inventories and the absence of fresh upstream cost pressure, signaling a demand-driven correction rather than a supply shock. The late-month dip sharpened focus on near-term procurement timing and replenishment strategies. Food-grade demand remained the dominant anchor, described as steady through mid-month even as broader demand failed to broaden. Food-grade cargos faced modest easing in import readiness levels, while the overall three-month trend remained sideways, underscoring limited directional momentum in fundamentals. Supply conditions stayed orderly, with imports and on-hand inventories described as stable, and no plant outages reported. The February decline was the principal driver of headlines, suggesting opportunities to cover needs without chasing sizable supply reductions, with muted volatility expected absent new catalysts.
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.
