Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) prices in the United States firmed sharply into early May 2026, underpinned by downstream demand and a supply shock tightening tonnage. After an initial April lift driven by upstream surcharges and maintenance, renewed buying emerged as geopolitical and logistics pressures persisted. Distributors' restocking, stronger export inquiries into North America, and architectural coatings demand supported firmer spot activity and Gulf Coast FOB levels. Demand for VAM showed a bifurcated pattern: architectural coatings buyers led the rally, while adhesive and flexible-packaging buyers largely held to contractual volumes, keeping uptake steadier. Export programs to Mexico and Canada remained constructive; Brazilian inquiries improved and supported regional interest. Supply dynamics, including elevated feedstock costs for acetic acid and related processes, narrowed margins and reinforced firmer pricing. Domestic producers completed maintenance and ran operating rates, while overseas outages and freight disruption kept global availability fragile. The outlook points to potential upside amid continued restocking, energy-linked costs, and regional demand strength, barring new shocks.
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.
