The Chinese malic acid industry is experiencing strong action fueled by increased demand from key industries including food and beverages, where it plays a critical role as an acidulant for improvement of flavor and shelf life. On the supply side, increasing demands for natural and organic products are propelling usage within healthy products among consumers, with pharmaceutical uses supported by use in drug formulation and effervescent tablets. Supply-side drivers are being stimulated by China's dominant production capacity, with investment in fermentation-type manufacturing processes supporting production in the context of the improvements in global supply chain. Exogenous drivers like trade policy and energy market trends are affecting levels of inventory and competitiveness of export. In total, malic acid demand is supported by industrial drivers such as green additives and sustainable packaging, and China is the resulting center of world supply, though under threat from regulatory changes to long-term stability and oversupply risks. This strategic alignment of demand drivers and supply efficiencies serves to highlight the significance of malic acid in new markets.
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.
