In early March 2026, PMMA markets in the USA experienced notable tightening as escalating Middle East tensions, including strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces against Iranian targets, disrupted feedstock flows and import logistics. The conflict heightened uncertainty across Gulf shipping routes, prompting distributors to pay premiums to secure March PMMA cargoes. Converters rebuilt safety stocks, relying on a limited number of polymerisation lines, while automotive and construction sectors maintained steady demand, supporting offtake. Late-February easing was reversed as MMA feedstock costs firmed under war-related supply risks, reinforcing seller resistance to discounts. Logistics challenges, including vessel congestion at Gulf Coast ports and delayed shipments from East Asia, further tightened near-term availability. Weekly market movements confirmed a reversal from flat-to-down trends to stronger activity, driven by precautionary buying amid geopolitical risk. Looking ahead, PMMA procurement managers face heightened uncertainty, requiring flexible purchasing strategies and staggered coverage to navigate potential supply disruptions linked to ongoing Middle East conflict.
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.
