China Epichlorohydrin (ECH) prices increased by 5% in the middle of September 2025 due to a shortage on the supply side. Manufacturing costs were pushed up by production problems and increased cost of feedstocks, especially propylene and glycerol. Supply was scarce due to the low operating rate (50 to 60%) of the ECH industry and shutdown at main plants, while some producers just would not quote prices. Downstream epoxy resin makers, by extension, have also begun to raise selling prices, although purchasing demand is said to remain limited by the typical cautious "wait-and-see". Logistical challenges add to the pressure on the market. While pre-existing typhoon closures, enhanced by the Golden Week holidays from October 1 to 8, caused port congestion and contributed to shipping delays at major ports, including Ningbo. ChemAnalyst predicts ECH prices to move upward even in October because of supply constraints, shutdowns, and the Golden Week of Holidays.
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.
