Propylene in the US Gulf climbed in late February as logistics bottlenecks and inventory draws offset softer downstream demand. After an early-month surge, mid-month supply disruptions tightened flows, while market participants weighed bullish supply signals against muted polypropylene demand. Traders described reduced trading activity as buyers and sellers adopted caution, with ongoing maintenance outages and geopolitical risk influencing feedstock availability and sentiment. Downstream demand remained soft, particularly for polypropylene, restraining large-volume transactions and keeping market activity limited. Nevertheless, spot propylene posted a clear month-on-month uptick as tight feedstock access supported prices. Supply dynamics, propane deliveries tightening and higher crude costs, contributed to a firmer outlook for petrochemical feedstocks, while planned maintenance outages across Gulf Coast facilities curtailed near-term capacity. Analysts expect a relatively stable near-term environment, supported by tightening logistics and inventory draws, but gains may be capped by subdued downstream PP buying. Any larger disruption in supply or energy markets could rapidly shift the tone of the market.
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.
