Polyester Staple Fiber Price Divergence: Industrial Fiber Balls Hold High, Cotton-Type Spinning Grade Under Pressure

The price gap between industrial-grade fiber balls and cotton-type polyester staple fiber has widened to over 8,000 RMB per ton, a rare phenomenon in the polyester staple fiber market over the past three years. According to the latest quotations on June 26, 2026, Henan Kaijie's regular fiber balls (30-50mm diameter) remain stable at 15,500 RMB/ton, while Yida brand melt-blown cotton-type polyester staple fiber (1.56dtex*38mm) trades at only 7,250-7,330 RMB/ton in Suqian, Jiangsu. Behind this divergence lie two entirely different supply-demand dynamics.

Industrial Fiber Balls: Environmental Demand Supports High Prices

As water filtration media, the demand for fiber balls is closely tied to the enforcement of environmental policies. The current high quotations for industrial-grade fiber balls reflect stable procurement of high-end filtration materials for municipal wastewater upgrading and industrial wastewater deep treatment. Henan Kaijie, as a leading supplier in the Zhengzhou area of Henan Province, sets a benchmark for similar products nationwide. From an industrial chain perspective, the impact of upstream polyester raw material price fluctuations on fiber ball costs is partially absorbed by downstream rigid demand, giving them much greater price resilience than textile-grade fibers. Notably, fiber balls require specialized raw material specifications and processing techniques, creating high entry barriers that structurally support their high prices.

Cotton-Type Polyester Staple Fiber: Spinning Sector Under Pressure, Regional Competition Intensifies

In Suqian, Jiangsu, quotations for Yida brand cotton-type polyester staple fiber range from 7,250 to 7,330 RMB/ton, showing a weakening trend compared to earlier periods. This price level is close to the cash cost line for some small and medium-sized enterprises. The downstream market for spinning-grade fiber is mainly cotton spinning mills. Currently, the recovery of end-use garment orders is below expectations, and the decline in cotton prices has created a substitution effect, squeezing the proportion of polyester staple fiber used in blended yarns. As a cluster area for staple fiber production, Suqian's enterprises compete for limited orders through price reductions, with quotations dropping from 7,330 to 7,250 RMB/ton, reflecting destocking pressure.

From a broader perspective, the weakness in cotton-type polyester staple fiber is also pressured by new capacity in Southeast Asia. New staple fiber units in Vietnam and Indonesia, which focus on spinning-grade products, are leveraging raw material cost advantages to erode China's market share in Southeast Asian textile markets, further exacerbating domestic supply-demand imbalances.

Practical Recommendations

For Buyers - Monitor the price spread between industrial-grade and textile-grade fibers. If the spread remains above 8,000 RMB/ton, evaluate alternative solutions or cross-grade arbitrage opportunities, such as upgrading some textile-grade fibers into lower-grade filtration materials through modification, but factor in processing costs. - For spinning-grade fiber procurement, adopt a phased point-pricing strategy to avoid locking in large inventory during a price downtrend. Focus on operating rates in major production areas like Suqian and Xiaoshao; if rates fall below 70%, prices may gain temporary support.

For Foreign Trade Firms - New staple fiber capacity in Vietnam and Indonesia is ramping up, and its substitution effect on spinning-grade exports cannot be ignored. Shift export focus toward differentiated varieties such as antistatic or flame-retardant polyester staple fibers to avoid direct price competition with Southeast Asian capacity. - Closely monitor China's anti-dumping policy dynamics on staple fibers from Southeast Asia. If related investigations are initiated, they may temporarily boost domestic export quotations, but long-term survival depends on product upgrading.