Polycarbonate prices in the United States moved higher in early March after a relatively subdued February characterized by balanced supply-demand conditions. Early February experienced mild selling pressure, while steady buying activity during mid-to-late February prevented significant price declines. Stable production rates, balanced inventories, and unchanged input costs supported market equilibrium throughout the month. However, prices strengthened in early March, with GP Grade Polycarbonate DDP US Gulf rising to USD 1,735/MT, about 2.1% higher week-on-week, driven by renewed purchasing activity. Improved automotive sector momentum also supported the increase, as February US light vehicle sales rose 6.3% month-on-month, boosting demand for engineering plastics such as polycarbonate used in vehicle components.
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.
