US acetone buyers faced a tight spot market into May, with firmer buying interest and limited availability underpinning sentiment. The April period saw a sharp reaction to upstream disruptions and restocking activity, while mid-April activity benefited from resumed polymer-related consumption and steady merchant orders. In April and into May, procurement remained firm as buyers chased scarce spot volumes and producers prioritized contract fills, keeping spot liquidity constrained and sending sentiment toward the upside. Demand across BPA and coatings/manufacturing supported the run-up, as paints and coatings orders held firm and BPA producers sustained elevated merchant requirements. A restart of Dow Chemical's PMMA sheet line refreshed MMA demand in the region. The market cited substantial cost pressure from upstream feedstock costs and earlier crude and propylene movements, compounded by ethylene outages that tightened supply. The outlook remains firm to modestly higher as inventories are managed and order books stay closed, with downstream pull and co-product strength supporting continued upside risk.
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.
