It is the same polyester staple fiber, but industrial and textile grades are diverging onto completely different price tracks.
On June 26, industry public data showed that fiber balls (30-50mm diameter) from Henan Kaijie Water Treatment Co. remained locked at 15,500 RMB/ton for several consecutive weeks, while on the same day, cotton-type spinning grade polyester staple fiber (1.56dtex*38mm) from Yida in Suqian, Jiangsu, slipped to the 7,250-7,330 RMB/ton range. The price gap exceeds 8,000 RMB/ton, revealing a structural divergence within the current polyester staple fiber market.
Industrial End: A Price Fortress Supported by Rigid Demand
Fiber balls are mainly used in water treatment, petrochemical filtration, and other environmental protection fields. Their price resilience is closely linked to the rigid enforcement of downstream environmental policies. Henan Kaijie, a water treatment material supplier in central China, has kept its quotation flat, indicating relatively stable supply-demand dynamics for this category.
From an industrial logic perspective, the production process for industrial-grade fiber balls differs significantly from spinning-grade short fibers: the former requires special properties in fiber crimp, elasticity, and chemical resistance, and production batches are relatively small, leading to higher unit costs. More importantly, procurement in the environmental water treatment sector is project-based and has limited exposure to fluctuations in textile end-consumption, giving it inherent anti-decline properties.
Textile End: Squeezed Between Overcapacity and Order Shortage
In stark contrast to industrial-grade products, cotton-type spinning-grade polyester staple fiber prices have fallen below the 7,500 RMB/ton threshold. Yida's capacity in Suqian uses the melt direct spinning route, which offers cost advantages, yet the 7,250 RMB/ton quotation still reflects intense market competition.
The core contradiction facing the downstream textile sector is:
- Terminal garment export orders did not rebound as expected in Q2 2026, with continued diversion effects from Southeast Asian production capacity;
- Domestic weaving enterprises have low willingness to stock up, adopting a buy-as-needed strategy, making it difficult to form bulk procurement support;
- New production capacity in the polyester staple fiber industry has been released sequentially, further exacerbating the supply-demand imbalance.
On the same day, Zhejiang Tianchen Textile Supply Chain Co., Ltd. quoted two different prices for the same product: 7,250 RMB/ton and 7,330 RMB/ton. This is not a data error but reflects the actual transaction flexibility of the same variety under different batch sizes, payment terms, or delivery cycles—and also implies that sellers are proactively offering discounts to gain liquidity.
The Industry Signal of the Price Scissors
15,500 RMB/ton vs 7,250 RMB/ton is not a simple category premium. It is a microcosm of the divergence in the prosperity of the entire textile industry chain.
For buyers, the current spinning-grade polyester staple fiber is a buyer's market with ample room for negotiation, but the risk of inventory depreciation from further price declines must be monitored. For upstream producers, the high-profit window for industrial-grade fiber balls may attract more capital, but technical barriers and certification cycles will limit short-term supply increases.