US cumene prices gained in mid-December 2025, marking the 12th straight week of upward movement and indicating that the momentum in the market was persisting. Upturn was supported by a temporary recovery of benzene feedstock prices, which raised the cost support for cumene production after weeks of horizontal selling pressure. Benzene recovered following seasonal refinery maintenance and regional trade in aromatics, providing the short-term support to price. Acetone demand from downstream coatings, adhesives and industrial solvents received some support, offsetting the impact of the general oversupply concerns. Crude oil, which plays a role in determining the cost structures of benzene and cumene, was relatively weak in the majority of 2025, but a lagged pricing response in aromatics pricing helped keep cumene prices high. Traders also said purchasing appeared to be cautious “hand-to-mouth” and spot supply was limited, which supported prices in the short-run. According to ChemAnalyst, the direction of the cumene futures will depend on a continued strengthening in feedstock or the downstream could results in the bullish momentum rolling over into 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.
