US phenol markets firmed into month-end as month-end buying aligned with contractual volumes and a persistent bullish tilt tightened sentiment for Louisiana-delivered material. Activity in mid-March remained muted as domestic producers operated at steady run rates, while late-month fundamentals were balanced: limited spot interest, comfortable domestic availability and no systemic logistics bottlenecks. A protracted bullish trend has left upside risk latent, with sellers defending levels to avoid confusion between trade terms. Downstream appetite remained steady, with buyers prioritizing contract coverage and routine spot barrels, underpinning a noticeable month-on-month firmness in the delivered benchmark. Supply-side dynamics were supportive rather than disruptive, with feedstock availability stable and margins under limited pressure. A planned maintenance shutdown at a major Indiana site reduced capacity temporarily but caused only near-term local logistics implications. Inflows stayed modest, domestic output meeting the bulk of demand. Outlook points to a stable to range-bound near term, with upside likely paced and selective and freight/maintenance windows watched closely.
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.
