Copper rod markets in the United States closed February with a rebound, but the month finished with a softer tone due to seasonal headwinds. Early February trading was range-bound amid normal operating rates and steady procurement, while mid-month strength from infrastructure and advanced-mobility projects helped underpin mill order books. Late-month dynamics reflected winter construction slowdowns and a shift by some cable manufacturers toward aluminum, keeping copper rod buyers cautious. Overall, activity remained narrow and choppy, underpinned by ample copper rod stocks and selective, project-driven demand for magnet-wire, grid modernization, EV charging and rail electrification. Sector flows were mixed, with sustained demand from magnet-wire and related projects contrasting with softer construction and certain cable offtake. The copper rod market showed a tug-of-war between project activity and inventory pressure. Domestic inventories, including COMEX and off-exchange stocks, provided a supply cushion that weighed on prompt buying. The near-term outlook points to stable, range-bound trading, with high copper rod stock levels and conversion shifts likely cap upside despite episodic project pull-through.
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.
