Butyl acrylate prices in the USA firmed in February after a soft January, signaling a cautious recovery as the market digested declines. Mid-January losses triggered sentiment pressure, but the Butyl acrylate market stabilized and posted a modest uptick in the first half of February. January remained weak, with prices down on a month, reflecting ample carried-over inventories and subdued restocking. Buyers were selective, with steady activity in select manufacturing pockets, while broader offtake remained restrained. Demand was mixed across end-use sectors: construction offered tentative support amid softer residential sentiment, even as construction hiring rose; coatings and adhesives demand remained soft, with discounting and light restocking. Export interest stayed muted, limited to contracted shipments to neighboring regions, further constraining external demand. On the supply side, acrylic acid held firm and provided cost-stability, while n-butanol showed mixed movements; logistics disruptions and winter conditions briefly constrained flows. The outlook remains near-term softness with a seasonal rebound expected into spring, contingent on restocking and export improvement.
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.
