US NBR markets eased through May as NBR sentiment intensified late May. Early weakness reflected slower procurement by automotive and glove manufacturers; mid-month sentiment failed to restore momentum. By the end of May, NBR import arrivals and comfortable NBR stocks added supply-side pressure, while softer feedstock markets eroded NBR cost support. Market participants shifted to cautious purchasing, keeping offers under pressure and signaling a range-bound near-term environment rather than a rebound. Demand was uneven across end-use sectors, shaping price behavior for the NBR CFR Los Angeles grade. Softness in automotive and glove industries prompted NBR buyers to pull back, while industrial machinery and oil-and-gas equipment showed modest interest. The overall demand mix contributed to a downshift from prior levels, with weaker downstream procurement in focus. On the supply side, falling feedstock costs reduced NBR production-cost support, aiding sellers’ competitiveness. No material NBR plant outages were reported, and NBR imports and inventories eased tightness. Looking ahead, NBR prices are expected to oscillate within a broad range as demand remains fragile.
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.
