US cold rolled coil prices edged higher into early March on steady end-user demand and limited import arbitrage, sustaining premium discipline. February saw subdued, then steady buying from core fabrication and service centers rebuilding inventories for spring work. By early March, hand-to-mouth distributor stocks and steady automotive lines underpinned cold rolled coil momentum. Geopolitical risk around Middle East shipping lanes, with firmer freight and insurance costs, added upside to landed coil costs and pricing power. Demand remained mixed: automotive assemblies and appliance/HVAC fabricators sustained order books, while residential construction remained muted amid higher mortgage costs. Offshore offers were capped at a modest import share, and tariff barriers kept domestic utilization disciplined. Supply from electric-arc-furnace mills ran smoothly with no outages; stable scrap and iron costs supported margins, though rising bunker fuel and insurance could lift landed cold rolled coil costs if tensions escalate. Looking ahead, an upside bias through late spring is anticipated, with restocking ahead of seasonal activity and white-goods ramp-up, followed by gradual moderation.
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.
