The 35th week of 2026 delivered a stark contrast: polyester staple fiber surged 5.19% and PTA rose 4.10%, while spandex dropped 1.69% as the biggest loser. This divergence is not random—it highlights deep differences in cost pass-through, demand elasticity, and inventory cycles across textile raw materials, and it directly shapes procurement strategies for the end of Q3.
Market Snapshot
According to publicly monitored commodity price data for the week of August 31 to September 4, 13 of 17 tracked textile products rose, 3 fell, and the sector's average weekly gain was 1.05%. Only one product—polyester staple fiber—rose more than 5%, accounting for 5.9% of the monitored items. PTA followed with a 4.10% increase, while nylon POY, FDY, and DTY climbed 1.71%, 1.62%, and 1.55%, respectively. Cotton yarn 21S and 32S also posted weekly gains of 1.43% and 0.90%.
On the losing side, spandex fell 1.69%, cotton declined 1.30%, and acrylonitrile slipped 0.87%. Polyester yarn was flat, while raw silk edged up 0.70% but remained down 8.67% year-on-year, indicating incomplete recovery in the silkworm segment. Year-on-year, PTA surged 38.43%, acrylonitrile 41.37%, and polyester staple fiber 26.75%, whereas spandex rose only 19.59% and is currently in a downtrend, suggesting its pullback is not a base effect but genuine demand weakness.
Industry Impact
The collective rise in the polyester chain is primarily driven by firm upstream crude oil and PX prices. PTA's 4.10% weekly gain implies that cost pressure is transmitting smoothly downstream. Polyester staple fiber's 5.19% jump even outpaced PTA, indicating a tight supply-demand balance and stronger pricing power for mills. For downstream spinners, staple fiber is a major cost component; its sharp rise will directly squeeze yarn margins unless yarn prices adjust upward. In the short term, quotes for nonwovens and sewing thread may face upward pressure.
Spandex's persistent weakness tells a different story. As a high-elasticity fiber, downstream weaving and apparel demand has not shown clear recovery, while new capacity continues to come online, leading to oversupply and price declines. For buyers, spandex weakness may extend into Q4, but one should watch whether upstream MDI and PTMEG fluctuations trigger a cost-push rebound—avoid excessive bearishness.
Cotton's 1.30% decline to around 18,180 yuan/ton aligns with expectations of new-crop supply in the Northern Hemisphere. The market is already pricing in upcoming supply pressure. The divergence between cotton and cotton yarn—where yarn rose 0.9-1.4%—suggests downstream orders are still decent. However, if cotton continues to fall, yarn price support will weaken, leaving spinners with high-cost inventories and lower selling prices.
Practical Recommendations
For Procurement Teams - Polyester chain materials (staple fiber, PTA) are likely to stay firm; stagger purchases based on order schedules and avoid chasing peaks. Watch for temporary dips when crude oil corrects. - Spandex is in a downtrend; extend inquiry cycles, prefer small spot orders, and reduce long-term contracts to mitigate further downside risk. - Given the divergence between cotton and yarn, delay cotton yarn purchases if cotton keeps falling, waiting for cost stabilization signals.
For Exporters - Update quotes for polyester-based fabrics to reflect higher staple fiber costs; price increases may transmit to exported yarn and fabric. Consider adding raw-material price adjustment clauses in contracts. - For orders involving spandex stretch fabrics, negotiate better FOB terms based on current low prices, but assess currency hedging costs.
In summary, the price divergence in week 35 mirrors different prosperity levels across the textile chain. The polyester chain's strength and spandex's weakness mean downstream buyers must refine their procurement decisions—neither ignoring upstream cost pressure nor underestimating structural oversupply risks. In the coming two weeks, watch PTA maintenance plans, new-cotton opening prices, and spandex plant production cuts, as these will determine late-Q3 trends.