US Hydroquinone markets extended a firm-to-bullish tone in February as upstream cost pressures were passed through and buyers front-loaded purchases ahead of seasonal demand. Early-month offers were lifted amid tighter feedstock dynamics and export competition reducing spot availability; by mid-to-late February, the market remained firm as photographic developers and cosmetics formulators advanced purchases and producers kept inventories lean ahead of planned Q2 turnarounds. Gulf Coast railcar congestion lengthened transit times, prompting sellers to prioritize higher-margin export loads under FOB Houston terms and sustaining a bullish trajectory into month-end. Demand across end-use sectors supported the gain, with photographic developers and formulators among the strongest buyers ahead of spring-season activity, and cosmetics players placing forward orders to mitigate potential regulatory lead-time extensions. Polymer and specialty-additive sectors provided modest support. Domestic capacity remains constrained, with lean inventories and export-driven tightness. Outlook remains bullish near term, with projected month-on-month gains of +15.7% in March, +9.1% in April and +5.5% in May, before moderating later.
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.
