USGC butadiene markets extended firming into May as prompt availability tightened and buyers had limited options. Supply pressures began in early April from crowded terminals due to Gulf Coast methanol exports, followed by a mid-April squeeze after an unplanned outage at SABIC's Jubail complex curtailed a key Middle Eastern supply line. The tone shifted from neutral to firmer as sellers resisted discounting and buyers had fewer alternatives. Demand was mixed: synthetic rubber buyers supported price strength at times, though some rubber producers trimmed run rates on margin pressures, tempering downstream uptake. Consumer electronics demand remained soft, dampening some derivative flows, while general downstream buyers maintained steady buying that underpinned prices late in the period. Logistics congestion and elevated freight costs added upside risk, with Gulf Coast methanol crowding terminals cited as a key factor. Upstream dynamics-ethane-heavy cracker feeds reducing C4 yields tightened prompt supply alongside reduced import options after Jubail. Outlook for Butadiene remains firm-to-higher with continued seller reluctance to release volumes.
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.
