The U.S. Silicon Metal market maintained a firm undertone through April and early May, supported by steady downstream demand and balanced supply conditions. Regular import arrivals and consistent pull from aluminium casting and polysilicon users kept early month activity stable, while semiconductor buyers maintained routine but cautious procurement. Toward late April, tightening import logistics added mild cost pressure, helping prices edge higher despite near average inventories. Demand remained anchored by the aluminium sector, which continued to absorb significant volumes, while semiconductor and wafer grade buyers limited spot activity. Supply conditions were stable, with domestic Silicon Metal smelters running consistently and imports filling the remaining requirement without major cost shocks. Freight and inland trucking constraints added slight landed cost pressure but did not disrupt overall availability. Weekly trends showed a gradual upward bias rather than a breakout, with buyers timing purchases carefully. Looking ahead, the near term outlook for Silicon Metal market remains steady to slightly firmer, shaped by logistics, procurement discipline and evolving supply dynamics.
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.
