US Vitamin D3 markets extended weakness into early February as abundant imports and discounting eroded spot demand. Early January offers retreated amid steady lanolin inflows, while mid-month buying softened as buyers locked in longer-term contracts. Late January offshore cargoes into Gulf and East Coast tanks prompted trims. The downtrend persisted with weekly declines, as winter supplement demand provided limited support. Demand across sectors remained mixed. Supplements and consumer health channels delivered baseline demand driven by Vitamin D3 in formulations and a tilt toward premium formulations, but uplift was modest and insufficient to offset pricing pressure. Food and beverage fortification, notably in milk alternatives and microencapsulated formats, kept end-market pull resilient. Distribution and online channels were soft, with price transparency and replenishment delays. Imports account for the majority of US Vitamin D3 requirements, underscoring offshore dominance. Outlook remains cautious, with continued surplus and substitution likely to keep pressure on spot offers.
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.
