Sulphur prices in the United States increased sharply from late April to early May 2026, supported by tight global supply, logistical disruptions, and strong demand from the fertilizer sector. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, significantly restricted exports and caused major production losses across key suppliers. At the same time, limited global production growth reduced the market’s ability to respond to shortages. Rising fertilizer demand further strengthened sulphur consumption. Ongoing shipping constraints and prioritization of long-term contracts have tightened spot availability, and the market is expected to remain firm in the near term.
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.
