US paraxylene values firmed through late April as feedstock inflation and regulatory uncertainty offset soft downstream appetite. Early April strength followed a step up in energy benchmarks and refinery tightness, while mid April momentum reversed as buyers leveraged ample availability. By late April, stronger naphtha and crude benchmarks, together with an EPA proposal, nudged operating decisions and helped PX recover. The market shifted from volatility toward a firmer near term posture and remained sensitive to PET converter demand and broader polymer trade dynamics. Demand was uneven across end use sectors, with the PET/polyester chain staying soft as converters remained cautious, while trade tensions and tariff moves briefly supported aromatics sentiment. Supply dynamics also played a central role, as rising feedstock costs and refinery incidents tightened availability. Weekly patterns showed early strength, a mid month dip, and a late rebound. Near term prospects remain mixed, with upside from feedstock strength and regulatory clarity offset by tepid PET demand and buyer price sensitivity.
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.
