R-PET prices in the USA moved higher into mid-April 2026, reflecting a tug-of-war between improving availability and domestic tightness. Early March was broadly balanced; output disruption at a major reprocessor tightened usable flake, while collection improvements and recovery infrastructure boosted inventories, creating a push-and-pull dynamic for R-PET that left buyers cautious. Recycled-content mandates for beverage packaging continued to underpin baseline demand from brand owners even as broader order activity remained muted. Beverage packaging remained the strongest driver, supported by rules and steady bottler purchasing, while fiber and thermoforming stayed steady yet faced competition from virgin PET. Packaging converters largely stuck to contract procurement, limiting spot volatility. Domestic reprocessors supply majority of national demand, with imports slightly less. In March, R-PET spot activity softened briefly but then firmed as inventories grew; near-term outlook remains mixed, conditioned by mandates, energy, logistics costs, recovery infrastructure, and import flows, with seasonal beverage cycles supporting demand later in the year.
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.
