April 2026 saw US Isopentane edge higher on export buying and tighter Gulf availability, keeping balances tight. Planned maintenance and reduced operating rates limited output and availability, underpinning firm market tone. Mid-month crude corrections introduced volatility into feedstock economics, while a rebound reinforced upward pressure on spot and offers. Demand remained elevated as downstream producers in Mexico and Canada stocked ahead of seasonal construction demand, thinning inventories at key hubs and sustaining bullish narrative. Export demand was strongest in the foam segment, while domestic refrigeration and insulation markets provided baseline. Specialty solvents and aerosols stayed steady; emerging Asian buyers added modest incremental export allocations. On the supply side of Isopentane, maintenance and reduced Gulf Coast isomerisation activity constrained production, with logistics broadly stable. A softening of upstream costs due to natural gas declines tempered some pressure, but crude rebound kept landed-cost expectations higher, supporting firm offers. The market shows a mixed trajectory with restocking and volatility likely.
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.
