Raffinate market were on high alert in July 2025 as cautious downstream demand and fluctuating raw materials threatened to disrupt consistent supply. Crucial for gasoline blending and MTBE feedstock, raffinate balanced robust refinery output against increasing port congestion that hindered delivery, particularly at China's Ningbo–Zhoushan terminal. Raffinate offtake was greatly aided by MTBE's strong blending activity and export demand, but Naphtha's volatile pricing added to the strain. Amid unstable gasoline markets and macroeconomic concerns, traders remained cautious and preferred just-in-time purchasing. Going forward, Raffinate's path depends on seasonal blending cycles, naphtha feedstock patterns, and logistical challenges, indicating gradual market movements as opposed to abrupt price fluctuations.
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.
