India’s o-Nitro Toluene market shifted from subdued, range-bound trading in February to a sharp uptick in early March, driven by rising feedstock costs, weak downstream demand, and geopolitical risks from the ongoing Middle East conflict. Normal operating rates limited steep production cuts, while suppliers maintained firmer offers to protect margins. Disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, higher freight and insurance costs, and rising energy prices added further pressure, prompting precautionary buying. The market is expected to remain volatile but supported, with cautious procurement and moderate downstream demand, while geopolitical uncertainty continues to influence short-term price movements and market sentiment.
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.
