In the second week of June 2026, the textile bulk commodity market presented a rare 'fire and ice' scenario. On one side, polyester filament and PTA continued their upward momentum; on the other, the cotton and nylon chains accelerated their correction. Industry data shows the textile sector average price edged down 0.14% week-on-week, yet the number of rising and falling items was exactly five each, indicating that market divergence has shifted from inventory games to profit redistribution across the supply chain.
The Polyester Chain: Dual Support from Cost and Supply
Polyester DTY led the gains with a 0.65% weekly rise, closing at 9,643.75 yuan/ton, up 15.24% year-on-year. Polyester FDY and PTA followed, rising 0.37% and 0.28% respectively. The year-on-year gains are striking: PTA surged 35.62%, and FDY rose 21.71%.
The logic is straightforward. Upstream PTA maintenance is concentrated, keeping market supply tight. Combined with high international crude oil prices, cost-side support remains strong. Downstream fabric mills, driven by a 'buy on rising' mentality, have increased procurement of polyester filament, especially DTY used in warp knitting and circular knitting, with some specifications even seeing queuing for pickup.
Notably, polyester POY rose only 0.15%, far below DTY and FDY. This suggests that margins in the texturing segment are being compressed—POY, as the raw material for DTY, lags in price increases, meaning downstream processors are squeezing their own margins to maintain sales. Profit concentration toward the upstream is evident.
The Cotton Chain: Dual Hit from New Crop Expectations and Seasonal Weakness
In stark contrast to the strength of chemical fibers, the cotton chain faced broad pressure this week. Cotton fell 1.32% to 17,350.67 yuan/ton, with year-on-year gains narrowing to 16.85%. Cotton yarn 21S and 32S barely held steady, but their year-on-year gains of only about 5% lag far behind raw material cost increases, severely squeezing spinners' margins.
Feedback from industrial zones indicates that new cotton planting area in Xinjiang remains high, with market expectations for the 2026/27 crop year leaning toward ample supply. Meanwhile, June marks the traditional off-season for textiles, with downstream fabric and garment orders weakening and mill operating rates declining. Cotton textile enterprises face a 'high-cost raw materials, low-demand finished goods' scissors gap, with some small and medium-sized mills already initiating output cuts.
Raw silk prices fell 0.68% this week and are down 7.70% year-on-year. This reflects weak terminal demand for silk products, especially as the overseas luxury market cools, putting pressure on high-priced raw silk.
The Nylon Chain: Largest Decline, Inventory Pressure Highlights
Nylon POY posted the largest weekly drop at 1.43%, closing at 13,800 yuan/ton. Nylon DTY also fell 0.37%. Nylon FDY held steady, but its year-on-year gain of only 8.37% lags far behind comparable polyester products.
The weakness in the nylon chain stems from supply-demand imbalance. Upstream caprolactam capacity continues to expand, ensuring ample raw material supply. Downstream nylon filament inventories are accumulating, while demand from end-use sectors such as sportswear and down jacket fabrics has not yet entered peak season. Traders report that spot nylon POY transactions are mostly concluded with price concessions to move goods, indicating weak market confidence.
Stable Items: The 'Still' Signal from Spandex and Viscose
Spandex, viscose staple fiber, acrylonitrile, and polyester yarn remained flat this week. Spandex's plateau is particularly noteworthy: after sharp volatility in 2025, spandex has stabilized around 29,833 yuan/ton, up 21.77% year-on-year. This suggests the spandex market is reaching supply-demand equilibrium, but the high year-on-year gain still implies ongoing cost pressure for downstream users.