In the second week of June 2026 (8th to 12th), the prices of major textile commodities showed a clear structural divergence. Polyester filament series rose against the broader weakness, while nylon, cotton, and silk faced downward pressure. This is not a random fluctuation but the result of multiple factors including cost transmission, demand shifts, and capacity cycles.
Polyester Chain: Cost-Driven and Demand-Resilient
Polyester DTY led the gains with a 0.65% weekly increase, closing at 9,643.75 yuan/ton, up 15.24% year-on-year. Polyester FDY rose 0.37% to 9,011.67 yuan/ton, with an annual gain exceeding 21%. Upstream raw material PTA also rose 0.28%, reflecting cost support. Polyester POY posted a modest 0.15% gain.
What does this mean? The across-the-board rise in polyester filament is primarily cost-driven. The 35.62% year-on-year surge in PTA prices directly pushes up polyester chip and downstream yarn costs. At the same time, weaving mills, after destocking, are showing restocking demand, especially as orders for autumn/winter fabrics begin to emerge. This combination of cost-push and demand support makes the polyester chain notably strong in an otherwise weak market.
Cotton and Nylon: Inventory Pressure and Weak Demand
In stark contrast, cotton and nylon segments performed poorly. Cotton fell 1.32% to 17,350.67 yuan/ton. Despite a 16.85% annual gain, the weekly decline was significant. Nylon POY dropped the most at 1.43%, closing at 13,800 yuan/ton; nylon DTY fell 0.37%. Raw silk also weakened, down 0.68% to 437,400 yuan/ton, and was the only product with a year-on-year decline of 7.70%.
The decline in cotton reflects profit compression and high inventories in the spinning sector. Cotton yarn prices were flat, but the drop in raw cotton means spinners' purchasing willingness is low, with a strong wait-and-see attitude. Nylon's woes stem from oversupply of its raw material caprolactam and slowing growth in orders for sportswear and outdoor apparel. The persistent decline in raw silk signals weak demand in high-end silk consumption, especially in European and American markets, where luxury spending is cooling.
Signals from Price Divergence
Among the week's price movers, eight products remained flat, including viscose yarn, viscose staple fiber, spandex, and cotton yarn. This is not a sign of stability but of a tug-of-war between bulls and bears. Spandex prices are steady but up 21.77% year-on-year, indicating its high-cycle continues. The flatness of viscose products suggests the regenerated cellulose fiber market is at a supply-demand equilibrium.
Overall, the textile raw material market has formed a 'two-tier' pattern. The polyester chain, with its strong cost pass-through and relatively stable downstream demand, remains one of the few segments able to sustain price increases. In contrast, cotton, nylon, and silk face more severe supply-demand imbalances. For textile companies, this signals an urgent need to adjust product mix, as over-reliance on a single raw material type is becoming increasingly risky.