US phosphonate markets firmed sharply in early April after mixed momentum in March, driven by resilient demand from industrial and institutional cleaning, water-treatment, and fracking users, as well as cooling-tower blends. Mid-to-late March saw inventories adequate as ports cleared, keeping sentiment balanced, while elevated energy and freight costs plus tighter feedstock rekindled upside pressure in April. The phosphonate market shifted from balanced to firmer as logistics headwinds and higher input costs constrained CFR cargo availability, while feedstock limitations from Southeast Asian refineries added further support to pricing. Demand patterns remained the market’s backbone, with industrial cleaning and water-treatment blenders core, and household cleaner formulators and fertilizer distributors providing steady consumption; fracking service firms and cooling-tower chemistries exerted strong upside pull. Domestic production remained a major share of supply (about two-thirds) with imports contributing the remainder, underscoring how logistics sensitivity drives pricing. Looking ahead, a range-bound trajectory is likely, with potential modest upside if downstream demand stays robust and feedstock/logistics tighten further.
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.
