US caustic soda prices declined during the last week of April 2026 due to weak downstream demand and rising inventory levels. Prices fell by 2.3% week on week, as ample supply and cautious purchasing weighed on the market. Demand from pulp and paper, textiles, and chemical intermediates remained subdued amid uncertain economic conditions. While the Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruption tightened global petrochemical markets, the US market stayed well supplied due to lower natural gas costs and strong chlor-alkali operating rates. Softer Asian prices and weaker export demand added further pressure. Mixed alumina demand offered limited support, while oversupply is expected to continue pressuring prices through May 2026.
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.
