The US Benzoic acid market remained bullish in April 2026 as rising feedstock costs, elevated freight rates, and tighter import availability pushed prices higher. Strong demand from sodium benzoate manufacturers and soft-drink bottlers ahead of the summer beverage season continued to support the US Benzoic acid market. Higher logistics costs also played a major role in strengthening Benzoic acid prices. Spot freight rates on the Shanghai–Houston route increased sharply, while Gulf Coast toluene prices climbed to nearly USD 1,195/ton, raising production and import costs. Meanwhile, port congestion in Houston delayed cargo discharge and tightened near-term Benzoic acid availability. Supply conditions remained constrained as export volumes from China and Europe tightened due to compressed producer margins and higher upstream costs. Looking into May 2026, the US Benzoic acid market is expected to maintain modest bullish momentum, with prices forecast to rise by an additional 0.76% amid firm demand and elevated cost pressure.
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.
