Textile Raw Material Prices Show Structural Divergence: Cotton Yarn Edges Up, Acrylonitrile and PTA Lead Declines

In the final week of June 2026, the bulk textile commodity market showed a clear structural divergence rather than continuing the previous stable trend. According to public industry data, among 17 monitored textile raw materials, only cotton yarn 21S and 32S posted week-on-week gains of 0.14% and 0.10% respectively, while 13 items declined. Acrylonitrile and PTA fell over 5%, leading the downturn. The sector's average weekly decline reached 1.65%, signaling growing pressure on upstream raw materials.

The Supply-Demand Logic Behind Cotton Yarn's Resilience

The slight rise in cotton yarn 21S and 32S contrasted with a 1.23% drop in raw cotton prices. This 'yarn up, cotton down' phenomenon suggests that pricing power in the cotton yarn segment is more driven by rigid downstream order support. Although domestic textile and apparel demand has not seen explosive growth, restocking needs for conventional specifications like 21S and 32S remain stable, especially in denim and knitwear. Year-on-year increases of 7.50% and 6.57% indicate a higher price base, with cost pressures not yet fully absorbed.

Acrylonitrile and PTA Plunge: Chemical Raw Materials Enter a Downtrend

Acrylonitrile fell 6.92% weekly, and PTA dropped 5.10%. Despite year-on-year gains of 25.00% and 12.80%, such sharp single-week declines often signal accelerating supply-demand imbalance upstream. Acrylonitrile's price fell from 10,833.33 yuan/ton to 10,083.33 yuan/ton, directly impacting downstream acrylic fiber and ABS resin. PTA's decline correlates with crude oil volatility and high polyester chain inventories. All polyester filament varieties (POY, FDY, DTY) fell 2%-3%, indicating a lack of support across the polyester sector. For textile chemical companies relying on these materials, lower raw material costs may be offset by price war risks if end orders fail to recover.

Polyester and Nylon Under Pressure, Viscose and Spandex Relatively Resilient

All polyester varieties—DTY, POY, FDY, and polyester yarn—declined between 1.62% and 2.60%, with polyester staple fiber down 0.91%. Nylon chain also weakened: nylon DTY, POY, and FDY fell 0.88% to 1.21%. In contrast, viscose staple fiber and rayon yarn were flat, while spandex edged down only 0.56%, showing strong resilience. Spandex's year-on-year gain of 21.09% reflects a still-tight supply, though slowing demand for stretch fabrics raises questions about future price sustainability.

Industry Impact and Practical Advice

This price divergence has far-reaching implications across the textile chain. For cotton yarn buyers, current prices are relatively high; with raw cotton declining, inventory buildup should be avoided. For polyester and acrylic processors, rapid drops in PTA and acrylonitrile mean short-term cost improvements, but downstream price pressure may intensify; short-cycle orders are advisable. Exporters should monitor forex fluctuations and overseas order timing, locking in forward contracts during price windows.

For Buyers - Cotton yarn: Prices elevated; purchase as needed, avoid hoarding, monitor cotton futures. - Polyester: PTA decline will lower polyester costs; consider phased contracting for better prices. - Nylon: Moderate declines but still high year-on-year; prioritize long-term suppliers for discounts.

For Exporters - Quoting: During raw material downturns, include flexible clauses to avoid fixed long-term prices. - Risk management: For volatile items like acrylonitrile and PTA, use futures to hedge costs. - Market expansion: Cotton yarn demand abroad is stable; focus on Southeast Asian and South Asian markets.