US cumene markets advanced as feedstock tightness and downstream demand supported pricing as February moved into March. Caution among phenol and acetone buyers gave way to accelerated bookings and inventory builds ahead of spring turnarounds, leaving limited spot barrels for opportunistic trade. Bullish sentiment for cumene was underpinned by higher benzene and crude-linked costs, plus PDH reliability concerns and freight and insurance premiums. Buyers balanced cautious purchasing with the need to secure material ahead of pre-summer demand and logistical uncertainty, keeping market participants vigilant. Downstream dynamics were mixed: phenol and acetone buyers bought essential volumes, while epoxy resin and BPA chains built inventories ahead of summer. A manufacturing upturn supported feedstock pulls and tightened spot availability. The market remained lean, with suppliers prioritizing contracted deliveries. Looking ahead, analysts see further upside risk in the near term, driven by benzene and propylene tightness, higher crude and naphtha costs, freight pressures, and pre-summer restocking; gains tempered by PDH restarts or geopolitical disruptions.
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.
