March activity in the U.S. citric acid market showed accelerated buying and a sharp late-month uptick as buyers front-loaded cargoes ahead of seasonal demand. Early momentum gave way to stronger purchasing in weeks, driven by beverage bottlers and formulators stocking for pre-summer stockbuild. Logistics frictions and trade uncertainties pushed importers to secure tonnage earlier, tightening spot availability and sustaining a bullish run over multiple weeks. The market narrative centered on momentum-driven demand rather than a single supply shock, with downstream dynamics underpinning the rally. Beverage demand remained strong, as formulators integrated citric acid into high-volume SKUs and bottlers prepared inventories for Q2 peaks, while detergent, confectionery, and pharmaceutical sectors provided steady, broad support. The March close reflected this strength, underscoring strong buying and import dependence: roughly 66% of U.S. requirements sourced from imports, with domestic production covering the remainder. Looking ahead, near-term prospects remain firm amid pre-summer stockbuilding, front-loading, and risk premiums; buyers should secure cargo windows where possible.
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.
