Polyester Rises, Nylon Falls: Textile Raw Material Market Shows Divergence, Cost Game Ahead for H2 Orders

The contrasting trends of rising polyester and falling nylon and cotton defined the textile raw material market in early June. According to industry public data, during the 23rd week of 2026 (June 8-12), five of the 17 monitored textile bulk commodities rose, five fell, and seven remained flat, with the weekly average change at -0.14%. This narrow fluctuation masks significant divergence across categories.

Polyester Chain: Dual Support from Cost Pass-through and Demand Recovery

Polyester filament yarns were the week's standout. Polyester DTY rose 0.65% to 9,643.75 yuan/ton, up 15.24% year-on-year; polyester FDY gained 0.37% to 9,011.67 yuan/ton, up 21.71% YoY. Upstream PTA edged up 0.28% to 6,619.08 yuan/ton, with a staggering 35.62% YoY increase. Polyester POY rose 0.15% to 8,475 yuan/ton, up 18.43% YoY. The core driver is cost push from PTA, whose price surge forces rigid cost transmission downstream. Meanwhile, end-use demand for apparel fabrics showed moderate recovery, particularly from export orders for polyester-based textiles. Notably, polyester staple fiber fell 0.15%, indicating structural differences: filament benefits from garment orders, while staple fiber faces slower recovery in nonwovens and filling materials.

Nylon and Cotton: Ample Supply and Cautious Buying Pressure Prices

In contrast, the nylon chain weakened across the board. Nylon POY fell 1.43% to 13,800 yuan/ton, the largest decline of the week. Nylon DTY dropped 0.37% to 15,980 yuan/ton. Nylon FDY was flat at 16,500 yuan/ton, but its YoY gain of only 8.37% lags far behind polyester peers. The price correction stems from ample caprolactam supply and subdued buying interest after earlier restocking. For buyers, current prices are still 13.58% higher YoY, but the downtrend suggests waiting for stabilization before building positions.

Natural fibers also retreated. Cotton fell 1.32% to 17,350.67 yuan/ton, with YoY growth narrowing to 16.85%. Raw silk fell 0.68% to 437,400 yuan/ton, now 7.70% below last year—the only category with a negative YoY change. Cotton faces pressure from global production growth expectations and lower operating rates at spinning mills. Raw silk continues to suffer from weak silk garment exports. Cotton yarn 21S and 32S prices were flat, but YoY gains of only 5.41% and 4.11% highlight weak bargaining power in the natural fiber downstream.

Three Key Signals for H2

First, cost pass-through capability diverges sharply between synthetic and natural fibers. The polyester chain can pass upstream PTA cost increases downstream, while cotton and silk face demand ceilings. Buyers should focus on raw material cost structures—polyester-based fabrics have greater price elasticity than cotton or silk.

Second, the nylon decline may be a temporary adjustment rather than a trend reversal. Nylon POY remains 13.58% higher YoY, and fundamentals haven't deteriorated fundamentally. For foreign trade firms with nylon orders, consider restocking in late June to early July.

Third, the negative overall average change indicates a lack of broad upward momentum. In a range-bound market, textile mills' profitability depends more on product mix and order quality than on inventory gains from price hikes.

Practical Recommendations

For Buyers - For polyester DTY/FDY in an uptrend, purchase as needed for orders within 30 days; for orders over 60 days, stagger pricing and buy on PTA dips. - For nylon POY on correction, make small trial purchases but cap at 50% of monthly usage; wait for signs of price stabilization (e.g., nylon FDY softening) before increasing. - Cotton yarns offer cost stability for budget-conscious orders, especially 21S and 32S counts.

For Foreign Trade Firms - For polyester fabric export quotes, add 3-5% to cover raw material cost volatility and include price adjustment clauses linked to PTA. - For nylon fabrics, adopt a conservative pricing strategy; offer small concessions (1-2%) to secure orders given falling input costs. - For silk products, beware of inventory depreciation risk from falling raw silk prices; favor short-cycle contracts over long-term commitments.