The latest market quotations for polyester FDY (150D/96F) range from 8,500 to 8,750 yuan per ton, with a price gap of 250 yuan between the high and low ends. Behind this seemingly modest spread lies a divergence in pricing strategies among leading producers and the reality of regional overcapacity.
Supply Side: Zhejiang Dominates, Pricing Power Highly Concentrated
All six quoted companies in this dataset are located in Zhejiang Province, covering the three core polyester production hubs of Hangzhou, Shaoxing, and Tongxiang. Rongsheng Petrochemical and Zhejiang Juxing Chemical offered the industry low of 8,500 yuan/ton, while Tongkun Group quoted a high of 8,750 yuan/ton. A price difference of about 3% for the same product specification within the same region is uncommon in stable market conditions.
From a capacity perspective, Zhejiang accounts for more than 60% of the nation's polyester filament yarn capacity. Companies like Rongsheng, Tongkun, and Tiansheng Chemical are all million-ton-level players, and their quotations often serve as industry benchmarks. However, the current divergence signals a clear split in their outlook on the market. Low-quote companies may be aiming to accelerate destocking, while high-quote players try to defend profit margins.
Notably, all quotations are ex-factory, tax-included, and the product grade is uniform (AA grade, semi-dull). This means the price gap is purely driven by corporate pricing strategy, not product differentiation.
Downstream Transmission: Weaving Sector Slows, Procurement Weak
Polyester FDY primarily flows into water-jet weaving and warp-knitting markets, with end uses in apparel fabrics and home textiles. Industry public data shows that comprehensive loom operating rates in Jiangsu and Zhejiang have declined for three consecutive weeks, with some small and medium-sized weaving mills suspending operations.
Procurement behavior can be summarized as "buy-as-needed, use-as-you-buy." Faced with divergent upstream quotes, downstream buyers favor low-price suppliers and avoid long-term contracts. This mentality further compresses the bargaining power of high-quote companies. Tiansheng Chemical's quotation of 8,710 yuan/ton, falling between the extremes, reflects the dilemma of mid-sized players torn between following price increases and maintaining volume.
On the cost side, PTA and MEG prices have maintained narrow fluctuations recently, providing no clear cost support for polyester FDY. Crude oil volatility impacts more through market sentiment than direct cost pass-through.
Regional Competition: The Subtle Game Between Hangzhou and Shaoxing
Geographically, low-quote companies (Rongsheng, Juxing) are concentrated in and around Hangzhou, while Shaoxing-based firms like Tiansheng and Jiabao Fiber quote relatively higher. Shaoxing, as one of the largest textile fabric distribution centers in China, offers local polyester producers logistical advantages due to proximity to end markets, but also faces stronger bargaining power from local weaving mills.
Hangzhou-based polyester companies rely more on external markets and adopt low-price strategies to capture share. This regional price competition may widen the gap further in the short term, potentially triggering localized price wars.
For buyers, the current market offers a relatively favorable window for price comparison. However, caution is needed: if crude oil or feedstock prices spike suddenly, low-quote companies may be the first to tighten discounts.