In the second week of June 2026, the textile raw material market showed a clear pattern of divergence. The chemical fiber chain, particularly polyester filament yarns, recorded modest gains, while cotton and nylon products experienced significant declines. This structural divergence reflects the clash of different supply-demand logics across the industry chain.
Chemical Fiber Sector: Cost Support and Demand Resilience
Polyester DTY rose 0.65% week-on-week to 9,643.75 yuan/ton, polyester FDY increased 0.37% to 9,011.67 yuan/ton, and PTA gained 0.28% to 6,619.08 yuan/ton. All three posted year-on-year increases exceeding 15%, with PTA surging 35.62%. This indicates strong upstream cost pressure. Polyester POY only rose 0.15%, and viscose yarn edged up 0.14%.
The core driver for chemical fibers is the resilience of PTA prices. As the pricing anchor for the polyester chain, PTA's 35.62% year-on-year gain has directly raised production costs for polyester filament yarns. Although downstream weaving mills face lackluster end-order growth, rigid replenishment demand remains, especially for high-density fabrics, providing support for DTY and FDY prices. The slight rise in viscose yarn was more a passive response to stable viscose staple fiber prices, with actual transaction volumes remaining subdued.
Notably, polyester staple fiber fell 0.15% this week, diverging from filament yarns. Staple fiber is mainly used in spinning and nonwovens; its weakness suggests cooling demand for cotton-type chemical fibers, possibly linked to seasonal declines in garment export orders.
Cotton and Nylon: Weak Demand and Inventory Pressure
In contrast to chemical fibers, cotton and nylon products faced significant selling pressure. Nylon POY posted the largest weekly decline at 1.43%, closing at 13,800 yuan/ton. Cotton fell 1.32% to 17,350.67 yuan/ton, and raw silk dropped 0.68% to 437,400 yuan/ton. Nylon DTY also declined 0.37% to 15,980 yuan/ton.
The decline in cotton prices is directly attributable to sluggish cotton yarn market transactions. Cotton yarn 21S and 32S prices were flat for the week, but their year-on-year increases were only 5.41% and 4.11%, far below those of chemical fibers, indicating that cotton yarn mills are unable to pass on costs. Weaving and garment factories have low acceptance of high cotton prices, purchasing only small lots for immediate needs, leaving cotton prices without upward momentum. Additionally, normal weather in Xinjiang cotton regions and expectations of a bumper new crop have weighed on the spot market.
The pressure on the nylon chain stems from both supply and demand. Nylon POY prices were up 13.58% year-on-year, but the sharp 1.43% weekly drop suggests traders are destocking. Downstream nylon fabric orders are concentrated in sportswear and outdoor sectors, which enter a traditional off-season in June, with demand contracting notably. Meanwhile, softening caprolactam prices have eroded cost support for nylon. Raw silk prices fell 7.70% year-on-year, continuing the weak domestic demand trend in the silk industry, as the high-end consumer market recovery falls short of expectations.
Implications for Procurement and Inventory Management
The current divergence in textile raw material prices is essentially a reflection of different supply-demand rhythms across chains. Chemicals are cost-driven, cotton is demand-suppressed, and nylon faces dual pressure. This landscape demands more sophisticated procurement and inventory strategies.
For Buyers - Chemical fiber products (especially polyester DTY, FDY) are at high year-on-year prices, but cost support remains. Buy on a need basis, avoid chasing highs, and monitor PTA futures as a leading indicator. - Cotton products are under short-term pressure, but the spread between cotton and cotton yarn has narrowed to historical lows. If end-order signs improve, consider locking in some volume at lower prices. - Nylon products have corrected significantly, but the off-season may persist. Maintain low inventory levels and wait for clearer bottom signals.
For Exporters - For export orders involving polyester fabrics, consider locking in raw material costs in quotes, using the current firmness of polyester filament yarns to negotiate long-term contracts with clients. - For cotton orders, be wary of inventory devaluation risks from falling raw material prices. Negotiate floating price clauses with suppliers or shorten procurement cycles. - Monitor the impact of RMB exchange rate fluctuations on imported raw material costs (e.g., PTA, caprolactam) and arrange hedging in advance.
Overall, the textile raw material market in mid-June 2026 is undergoing a structural adjustment. Whether chemical fiber resilience can continue depends on end-demand pickup in Q3; whether cotton's weakness reverses hinges on destocking progress before the new crop arrives. Flexible strategies are the order of the day.