Acetonitrile markets in the United States moved decisively higher through March, driven by persistent pharmaceutical demand and upstream disruptions that tightened effective supply. Early in the month, gains were modest as freight surcharges and risk premia elevated costs; mid-month FDA API campaigns underpinned solvent offtake. Late March disruptions, notably Strait of Hormuz delays, reduced feedstock flows and constrained co-product availability, reinforcing bullish momentum. Expanding electric-vehicle electrolyte production and demand from UHPLC instrumentation added incremental pull. Overall sentiment shifted to a supportive stance, with constrained crude output and steady industrial buying into month-end. The pharmaceuticals sector remained the primary driver, accounting for 45% of domestic demand and keeping solvent purchases robust. Supply-side pressures included elevated inland ammonia costs widening spreads to Gulf Coast hubs and squeezing margins; naphtha gains raised feedstock inflation for gas-intensive units and lifted co-product offers. The near-term outlook remains upward-biased, supported by ongoing disruptions and strong pharmaceutical demand, though logistics or feedstock risks could ease tightness.
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.
