U.S. Gulf Coast 1-Hexene prices eased in the first half of May as downstream demand softened and supply conditions improved following April’s tightness. Converters and polyethylene producers slowed their intake after completing pre-summer builds, reducing immediate pull on the market. Packaging-sector momentum that had fueled April’s strength normalized, leaving buyers more selective. Stabilizing upstream operations and the resolution of earlier outages helped restore availability, while terminal inventories began to recover. Export interest remained steady but less aggressive due to logistical constraints. Overall, the market shifted from a supply-driven rally to a more balanced and mildly corrective phase.
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.
