Polystyrene prices in the U.S. increased from late February into early March 2026, supported by stronger styrene feedstock costs and rising weekly trading activity. While February demand remained steady, buyers largely maintained routine purchases rather than aggressive restocking, and export activity to markets such as Mexico and Colombia stayed limited due to sufficient inventories. Domestic supply remained balanced with steady Gulf Coast production and comfortable terminal stocks. In early March, prices rose sharply, driven by firmer styrene benchmarks and geopolitical tensions affecting freight and feedstock costs. Ongoing Middle East conflict and crude-linked volatility are expected to continue influencing market sentiment.
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.
