US cumene prices are expected to decline further through June 2026, driven by easing benzene costs, steady propylene availability, and seasonal demand softness across the phenol–acetone chain, automotive, and construction sectors. With Gulf Coast operating rates stable and inventories near seasonal norms, sellers are likely to continue easing offers. Export demand remains moderate, and downstream buyers are maintaining just in time procurement. Unless benzene rebounds sharply or refinery outages tighten reformate supply, June pricing is expected to drift lower. May and early June set the stage for this weakness. Cumene FOB Louisiana in May, supported early in the month by benzene tightness linked to ExxonMobil outages. However, as benzene softened and downstream demand remained muted, prices slipped to by a 2.1% weekly decline. Overall, cumene is poised for continued downside through summer before a potential autumn recovery tied to restocking and refinery maintenance.
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.
