The US PBAT market jumped sharply in early March 2026 due to a combination of supply-chain disruptions, rising feedstock costs, and freight and logistics constraints. Escalating energy prices, fueled by Middle East tensions, added pressure to production costs. Flexible packaging demand drove the PBAT market rally, while other sectors remained cautious. Geopolitical uncertainties and shipping challenges are expected to keep pricing elevated in the near term, though improved import availability and normalized converter operations could moderate further gains later in the month.
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.
