Ethylene prices pulled back from April’s rally as spot availability rebalanced and feedstock tightness eased, signaling a shift from earlier strength to a softer near-term tone. Naphtha disruptions and global supply concerns had driven the late-April squeeze, while mid-April saw Gulf Coast crackers run at high rates, tightening prompt supply and supporting momentum. By mid-May, buyers exhibited caution, and arbitrage flows to Europe and Latin America helped temper domestic momentum, leaving trade rangebound before a sharper downward move in the latest week. Demand patterns remained mixed across end-use sectors, with domestic polyethylene and packaging chains continuing to support ethylene uptake; North American producers ran at relatively high utilization, underpinning offers despite weaker downstream spot buying in some segments. Export activity remained a bright spot as traders moved cargoes into Benelux and Latin America, reinforcing international appetite. The near-term outlook remains soft, with continued sensitivity to prompt supply, feedstock moves, and broader export dynamics.
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.
