US lithium metal prices declined through July as improving supply expectations, lower upstream production costs, and cautious commercial purchasing outweighed support from strategic procurement. Domestic producers maintained stable operations, while lower lithium hydroxide costs reduced manufacturing expenses and encouraged competitive offers. Stronger upstream concentrate production and confirmation of additional domestic lithium resources further improved perceptions of future raw-material availability, limiting concerns over supply tightness. Demand for Lithium metal remained mixed, as electric-vehicle and battery-related buyers reduced discretionary procurement amid elevated inventories and softer near-term automotive activity. Strategic demand from government procurement provided some support but was insufficient to offset weaker commercial buying. Logistics disruptions created localized delays across several US gateways but did not materially restrict nationwide availability. Looking ahead, lithium metal prices are expected to remain slightly soft in the near term before potentially gaining support as inventory normalization, strategic procurement, and improving battery-material demand strengthen the market.
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.
