US Toluene prices remained stable in early January 2026 due to balanced supply and demand. Demand held steady but quiet, as the most active buyers being TDI manufacturers, who require Toluene to produce toluene diisocyanate for foam used in automotive seating, insulation, and other industrial applications. Softer demand for furniture and bedding was a drag on overall usage. Solvent and chemical intermediate users picked up only limited support, with factories ramping up slowly after the holidays. The demand for gasoline blending remained low as winter fuel regulations and lower run rates at refineries restricted the availability of Toluene as an octane enhancer. The supply was steady, but the price support weakened with falling upstream crude oil prices. Exports also cleared well with strong overseas interest and a competitive US dollar. In the coming weeks of the first quarter 2026, firmer buying, reduced US refinery production, strong crude oil prices, as well as better export demand and market conditions, will see a rise in US Toluene prices.
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.
