Butadiene in the US moved higher in late February as supply tightened after activity earlier in the month. Early February featured steady sentiment and operating rates, but activity picked up and sellers pushed bids higher, reversing the muted tone that followed a prior bullish run. Market participants cited planned maintenance at a major Gulf Coast complex and tightening spot availability as key drivers behind buying urgency, even as overall fundamentals through mid-month remained balanced and procurement patterns persisted. End-use demand in automotive, rubber and plastics supply chains shaped the uptick, with buyers monitoring availability. The month's trajectory reflected supply-side disruptions, with production continuing through mid-month but a scheduled shutdown removing capacity, tightening availability, and supporting higher bids. Weekly action showed late-month gains. Underscoring how tight spot Butadiene parcels can reprice contract discussions for rubber and copolymer feedstocks. Looking ahead, volatility is expected as the market digests restart dynamics, with procurement activity shaping the trajectory.
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.
