15,500 RMB per ton—this figure has remained unchanged for three consecutive weeks in the quotation list of Henan Kaijie Water Treatment Co., Ltd. for ordinary fiber balls of diameters 30mm, 40mm, and 50mm, with no price differential. In the downstream product sector of polyester staple fiber, this sideways movement signals that the water treatment filter media market is entering a supply-demand stalemate.
Dual Pressure from Costs and Inventories
The anchor for this quotation lies upstream in polyester staple fiber. Fiber balls primarily use polyester staple fiber as raw material, and recent fluctuations in crude oil combined with overcapacity in PTA have narrowed the price range for staple fiber to within 2%. Henan Kaijie, a major water treatment material manufacturer in central China, is not alone in holding prices steady—many small and medium-sized filter media enterprises around Zhengzhou have also chosen to "stay put."
From a cost perspective, spot prices for polyester staple fiber are hovering narrowly between 6,800 and 7,000 RMB per ton, compressing the gross margin for fiber ball processing to around 15%. This means that even if end demand fluctuates slightly, producers lack the incentive to adjust prices actively—lowering prices would erode already thin margins, while raising them could risk losing orders.
- Upstream PTA prices fell below 5,000 RMB per ton in late June, but staple fiber producers did not follow suit; instead, they stabilized ex-factory prices through maintenance and reduced operating rates.
- Fiber ball producers generally hold 30-45 days of raw material inventory. Based on current procurement costs, there is no room for further price cuts in finished products.
Subtle Shifts in Downstream Procurement Pace
The water treatment industry is the primary application for fiber balls, covering industrial wastewater, municipal sewage, and circulating water systems. In the first half of 2026, the number of domestic water treatment project tenders grew only 3% year-on-year, far below the 12% growth in the same period of 2025. The slowdown reflects fiscal pressures on local governments, which have constrained environmental infrastructure investment, leading some small and medium-sized sewage treatment plants to postpone filter media replacement cycles.
Buyers' mindsets are also shifting. The old habit of "lowest bid wins" is gradually being replaced by lifecycle cost assessment. Fiber balls typically last 2-3 years, and the labor and downtime costs associated with frequent replacements make the 15,500 RMB/ton fiber balls more cost-effective than cheaper alternatives. However, this cognitive shift takes time, and short-term orders remain dominated by essential restocking.
Henan, as a fiber ball industrial cluster, accounts for about 40% of the country's capacity. Local enterprises report that June shipments fell 8% month-on-month, but inventory turnover remained around 20 days, avoiding a crisis of overstock. This state of "low demand, low inventory, low volatility" is expected to persist until the end of the third quarter.
Alternative Opportunities in Foreign Trade Channels
In contrast to weak domestic demand, demand for water treatment filter media in the Middle East and Southeast Asia is heating up. From January to May 2026, China's fiber ball exports grew 18% year-on-year, primarily flowing to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Vietnam. These regions are seeing a surge in seawater desalination and industrial wastewater treatment projects, increasing their reliance on high-quality fiber balls.
Export orders offer better profit margins than domestic sales, prompting some Henan enterprises to shift 10%-15% of their capacity to foreign trade. However, exports face challenges such as volatile logistics costs and destination-country certification barriers (e.g., NSF/ANSI standards), making it difficult for small and medium-sized manufacturers to independently develop overseas channels.
Practical Recommendations
For Buyers - Current prices are at a cyclical bottom; consider signing quarterly fixed-price agreements to avoid being forced to accept price increases when raw materials rebound in Q4. - Monitor upstream PTA plant maintenance schedules. If PTA operating rates drop below 70% in July, staple fiber costs will rise, potentially pushing fiber ball prices up by 200-300 RMB per ton. - Request lifecycle cost calculations from suppliers, incorporating replacement frequency and labor costs into the comparison.
For Foreign Trade Enterprises - Focus on Middle East seawater desalination projects and Southeast Asian industrial park water treatment tenders, where price sensitivity is lower than in domestic municipal projects. - Collaborate with multiple enterprises in the Henan industrial cluster for consolidated container exports to reduce per-unit logistics costs and share NSF certification expenses. - Leverage RCEP zero-tariff policies for exports to Vietnam and Thailand; tariffs on fiber balls to ASEAN have dropped from 5% to 0, significantly enhancing price competitiveness.
The current sideways movement in the fiber ball market is essentially the result of stable upstream costs combined with weak downstream demand. For industry participants, short-term trading opportunities are limited, but medium-term structural opportunities—whether through export substitution or product upgrades—are quietly brewing.