In the US, Butadiene prices decreased in December 2025 as the market was pressured by increased availability, and demand remained uneven among end users. The tire and construction companies keep feeding steady demand, supported by good tire production, winter buyers, and ongoing work on road traffic. These applications brought demand for Butadiene derivatives, such as adhesives, insulation, and paints. However, demand for homeware and furniture remained soft, which prevented further headway. Meanwhile, global Butadiene production increased with the debut of new plants in Asia and Europe, the largest contribution being from China, while ORLEN expanded production in Europe. Higher cracker run rates also boosted supply. US imports fell slightly from a peak earlier in the month, slowing container traffic and fewer shipments from China. Even so, imports remained strong. Looking ahead, the import price of Butadiene is projected to increase due to an improving demand and tightening supply in the early weeks of the year ahead.
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.
