Toluene prices in North America rose at the start of the final quarter of 2025 due to strong demand and tight supply. Production in the U.S. dropped in October as refineries slowed down because of weaker fuel demand and seasonal changes. This led to lower output of Toluene and other chemicals. At the same time, exports fell in September due to trade rule changes, port delays, and a strong U.S. dollar, which made American goods more costly overseas. Sanctions on Iran also disrupted supply routes for some chemical materials. Despite these issues, demand for Toluene stayed firm, with steady use in fuel blending, coatings, adhesives, and polyurethane products for the automotive and construction sectors. In the coming weeks, Toluene prices may rise further due to an expected rise in demand from Toluene Diisocyanate manufacturers to produce flexible foams and insulation materials for the automotive sector as car production picks up after the holidays. Supplies are likely to remain tight amid moderate production rates during winter.
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.
