Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) prices in the United States rose in January, evidence of a tightening in market fundamentals at the start of 2026, as tire manufacturers sought to increase their orders while maintaining controlled levels of inventory. There was a continued demand for SBR as tire manufacturers maintained their production and offered replacement cycles, while the overall output of chemicals continued to struggle amid slower construction and automotive sentiment. Additionally, supply pressure exerted itself because producers continued to operate at a level that had little room for error, given that the availability of feedstocks to produce product had increased and was disrupted by winter weather along the Gulf Coast. The imports continued to show signs of a reduction in late 2025, making it difficult for any spot buyers to be able to find enough product to purchase. Leading tire manufacturers also continued to advise an improving operational performance, thus boosting confidence in raw material demand in the near term. In addition, while sales for the automotive sector are projected to slow, the continued strong demand for replacement tires and premium tire segments supports SBR usage.
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.
