US aluminosilicate markets eased in January, weighed by demand weakness and destocking. Early refinery winter turnarounds trimmed immediate offtake from FCC catalyst users, while colder weather restrained construction activity and muted spot enquiries. Improved logistics shortened lead times, yet appetite persisted. By End-January, suppliers offered small concessions to clear inventories, leaving the market cautious in the seasonal window. Downside was concentrated where downstream demand softened, among refinery catalysts and petrochemical users after January shipments were cut during turnarounds. Construction additives and insulating fibre demand remained restrained; detergents and care surfectants stayed steady. Glass and electronics procurement stayed limited. Supply side Michigan-area production was stable with comfortable warehouse stocks and no major kiln outages. Feedstock shifts added margin pressure; sodium silicate glass CFR New York rose by about 9.5%, limiting aggressive pricing.
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.
