January saw an uptick in CFR offers as buyers locked cargoes ahead of spring production and Lunar New Year shutdowns, shrinking availability. Booking windows for Los Angeles arrivals lengthened and purchases from food and pharma buyers underpinned firmer quotations. The market tone shifted from tentative flows to more assertive buying as downstream buyers prioritized supply ahead of February cycles. Feedstock costs were not a driver; logistics and seasonal patterns dominated. Demand was led by food processing, with beverage and ready-to-drink electrolyte producers absorbing most forward cargoes. The food-processing segment accounts for a large share of domestic demand, amplifying the impact of forward purchasing. Pharma procurement replenished anti-coagulant buffers, lifting inquiries modestly. East Asian producers, led by China, curtailed runs ahead of Lunar New Year maintenance, tightening January arrival slots and supporting higher offers. Freight indices eased, offsetting landed costs somewhat. Outlook depends on holiday restart speed and first-quarter intake by blenders; maintenance and longer booking windows could sustain gains.
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.
