US base oil markets recorded flat pricing in the first trading week of December 2025. Meanwhile, Chevron has cut its posted prices for Group II base oils, pointing to a lower trend for the next weeks. Demand stayed weak due to seasonal downturn for automotive lubricants, and slowing manufacturing. Mexican and South American exports into the buying were limited, while India sought an alternative in cheaper Asian-origin barrels. Supply availability improved after the resumption of Excel Paralubes and better spot flows from Southeast Asia following the ExxonMobil upgrade. NEXBASE 4 XP underwrites Chevron confirming US Group III+ production from Q4 2026, a move that is set to redefine supply of premium-grade, was one such significant development of the market. In the wake of softening crude after OPEC+ output increases and inventory liquidation at the year end, base oil prices in the United States are expected to fall by late December, as noted by market analysts.
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.
