US Neoprene Rubber prices firmed in April 2026, advancing on a combination of soaring feedstock costs and tighter import availability that left downstream buyers absorbing higher landed costs. Throughout April the Neoprene Rubber market moved decisively upward as a sharp spike in 1,3-butadiene and scheduled maintenance at key chloroprene units reduced export allocations into North America. Meanwhile domestic Neoprene Rubber consumption held up bolstered by construction activity and pre-tariff auto parts buying—preventing a meaningful correction. Gulf Coast inventories did not build ahead of the seasonal buying window, underlining a broadly bullish tone heading into May as buyers prepared for summer restocking and downstream Neoprene Rubber production ramps.
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.
