The prices of Polybutadiene Rubber (PBR) in Asia fell slightly in early September 2025 amidst easing demand from the automotive sector, cautious purchasing attitude and excess stock levels in the market. Although South Korea continued good export volumes and stable butadiene feedstock availability, at the same time persistent weakness in the domestic demand for PBR in Japan and Vietnam. Increased competition in the market, inventory tightness and waning demand from downstream counterparties added to downward pricing pressure in these three countries. As market players sought to reduce their excess stock, evolving destocking behavior has become a key driver for change in price direction across regional markets.
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.
