Polyalphaolefin (PAO) prices in the USA remained unchanged in early February 2026, with no week-on-week movement and a muted tone. The steady start followed a modest January decline of about 0.48%, underscoring range-bound trading and balanced fundamentals. Early January saw PAO 8cSt grades hold firm amid balanced supply and demand and stable input costs, while mid-to-late January remained largely sideways as procurement stayed cautious. Downstream demand patterns contributed to the subdued momentum, with automotive and industrial lubricants, metalworking fluids, aerospace, and other high-performance greases showing steady, not aggressive, restocking. Analysts note that normal operating rates across the value chain supported consistent offtake, keeping demand outcomes stable. On the supply side, PAO production operated largely without interruption, maintaining balanced supply-demand and limiting price pressure. Two short force majeure outages in Texas—at Ineos Oligomers La Porte and ExxonMobil Baytown—drew attention but left headline prices unchanged.
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.
