US Germanium prices strengthened as tightening seaborne supply and rising logistics costs pushed buyers to secure material ahead of summer procurement cycles. Sharply reduced Chinese export flows and continued licensing checks limited spot availability early in the month, while higher freight costs encouraged buyers to advance orders. Steady demand from defence optic and semiconductor applications, including activity in infrared imaging and satellite components, kept interest firm through late May. End use trends were uneven, with defence and surveillance optics remaining the strongest driver, while telecommunications and automotive infrared applications provided moderate support. Supply pressures intensified as Chinese output stayed constrained and domestic inventories thinned. Looking ahead, maintenance outages, defence procurement needs and ongoing logistics risks are expected to keep Germanium sentiment firm across the broader Germanium supply chain.
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.
