Textile Raw Material Market Shows Divergence: Viscose Yarn Edges Up, Raw Silk Plunges, Chemical Fiber Under Pressure

On June 12, 2026, the textile commodity price index sent a clear signal: the market is shifting from broad-based gains to divergence. Among the 17 monitored varieties, only viscose yarn and cotton posted daily increases, at 0.14% and 0.05% respectively. Four varieties fell, with raw silk leading losses at -0.68%, followed by polyester staple fiber (-0.24%) and PTA (-0.18%). The average daily change was -0.06%, indicating a lack of consistent upward momentum.

Chemical Fiber: PTA and Polyester Staple Fiber Turn Weak The simultaneous decline of PTA and polyester staple fiber deserves attention. PTA closed at 6619.08 yuan/ton, down 0.18% from the previous day, but still up 35.62% year-on-year. Polyester staple fiber stood at 7870.61 yuan/ton, down 0.24% daily, with a 20.43% annual gain. This weakness suggests softening cost support from upstream PX and cautious purchasing by downstream fabric mills. Polyester filament yarns—POY, DTY, and FDY—were flat, but FDY saw a slight dip of 0.09%, signaling that the chemical fiber sector has entered a high-level consolidation. For buyers, this is not the time to chase rallies; wait for clearer cost signals.

Natural Fibers Diverge: Cotton Firm, Raw Silk Under Pressure Cotton stood at 17350.67 yuan/ton, up 0.05% daily and 16.85% year-on-year. Cotton yarn 21S and 32S were flat, with annual gains of 5.41% and 4.11%. The resilience of the cotton chain stems from reduced domestic planting area and tighter import quotas, but rising gray fabric inventories are eroding the basis for further price increases. In contrast, raw silk market was bleak. Raw silk closed at 437,400 yuan/ton, down 0.68% daily and 7.70% year-on-year—the only monitored variety with a negative annual change. This reflects weak global demand for real silk, especially in the European high-end market, combined with increased supply from the spring cocoon harvest, putting near-term pressure on prices.

Viscose Yarn and Staple Fiber: Structural Opportunity Amid Headwinds Viscose yarn rose 0.14% to 17,850 yuan/ton, while viscose staple fiber held at 14,060 yuan/ton. The slight uptick in viscose yarn was driven by higher cotton linter prices and limited production by some spinners. However, note that viscose staple fiber's year-on-year gain is only 6.84%, far below PTA's 35.62% and spandex's 21.77%, indicating relatively balanced supply-demand dynamics in the viscose chain. For foreign trade companies, viscose yarn and staple fiber offer greater price stability than chemical fibers, making them suitable for export orders where raw material volatility is a concern.

Spandex and Nylon: High-Level Concerns Spandex stood at 29,833.33 yuan/ton, up 21.77% year-on-year but flat daily. Nylon DTY, FDY, and POY prices also showed no movement, with annual gains between 8% and 14%. These high prices have persisted for months, squeezing downstream fabric mills. Some small and medium garment factories have begun reducing spandex usage or switching to alternative elastic fibers. Without a clear recovery in end-consumer demand, spandex and nylon prices may be near their peak.

Acrylonitrile: The Only Steady Intermediate Acrylonitrile closed at 9,933.33 yuan/ton, up 24.17% year-on-year and flat for several consecutive days. As a key feedstock for acrylic fiber and ABS resin, its strength is supported by propylene prices and planned maintenance at some plants. For buyers involved in acrylic yarn, securing supply early is advisable to avoid potential shortages.

Practical Recommendations ### For Buyers - Delay bulk purchases of chemical fiber raw materials (PTA, polyester staple fiber) until cost-side signals become clearer; focus on PX price trends. - Raw silk is in a downtrend; consider phased purchases at lower prices to avoid a single large buy, if order lead times permit. - Viscose yarn and staple fiber offer stable-to-firm prices, making them suitable as a "ballast" in raw material portfolios. ### For Foreign Trade Companies - Include price adjustment clauses in export contracts for chemical fiber products to hedge against PTA and polyester volatility. - For high-end silk orders, monitor European buyers' inventory digestion; consider offering modest discounts in exchange for long-term contracts. - For spandex and nylon products, keep inventory levels low to avoid overstocking at high prices before potential demand weakness.