On June 26, 2026, a notable detail emerged in the domestic polyester FDY 150D/96F semi-dull market: quotes for the same specification and grade ranged from 8,500 to 8,710 RMB/ton, a spread of 210 RMB/ton. This figure may signal a structural shift in profit distribution along the polyester chain.
The Logic Behind Price Divergence
Daily quotes showed Rongsheng Petrochemical and Zhejiang Juxing Chemical at the low end of 8,500 RMB/ton, while Tongkun Group at 8,750 and Tiansheng Chemical at 8,710 sat at the high end. Hangzhou Kaishi and Jiabao New Fiber were in the middle at 8,650 and 8,510, respectively.
This divergence is no accident. In 2026, the polyester FDY industry operates at 78%-82% capacity utilization, with a loose supply-demand balance. However, cost curves have diverged: companies with integrated PX-PTA upstream units, like Rongsheng, enjoy a 200-300 RMB/ton cost advantage, while pure polymerization-spinning firms like Tiansheng face higher raw material costs.
Inventory strategy is another key factor. Some firms actively destocked in Q1, now holding low inventory, allowing them to maintain higher prices. Others, under inventory pressure, cut prices to free up cash. This explains why identical products can differ by over 2% in price.
Impact on Downstream Weaving and Trade
For weaving mills, the differentiated FDY quotes offer more flexible procurement options. Theoretically, saving 210 RMB/ton between the low and high quotes means a 21,000 RMB monthly cost reduction for a medium-sized mill using 100 tons. However, low prices often carry risks: some low-cost goods may have issues with color fastness or evenness. Buyers should request batch quality reports.
Foreign trade firms face a benchmarking dilemma. When domestic prices diverge, foreign buyers often demand the lowest quote as a reference, intensifying price pressure. In practice, stable large-factory supply usually has a 5-7 day delivery advantage, while small-factory supply may extend beyond 10 days—a critical flaw for international orders.
Regionally, quotes between Shaoxing and Hangzhou show little difference, but Shaoxing's higher enterprise concentration gives it greater pricing flexibility, reflecting fiercer local competition.
Practical Recommendations
For Buyers - Check quality consistency of low-price goods: request physical test reports from the last three batches, focusing on breaking strength and elongation CV. - Use price spreads for tiered purchasing: build positions in the 8,500-8,600 range, avoiding single-supplier risk. - Watch hidden costs of ultra-low prices: quotes below 8,500 should confirm whether freight and VAT invoices are included.
For Foreign Trade Firms - Specify price validity and minimum order quantities in quotes to avoid contract losses from domestic price fluctuations. - Prioritize top-five suppliers by capacity (e.g., Tongkun, Rongsheng) for stable delivery and complete export documentation, despite higher quotes. - For L/C orders, require third-party inspection (SGS or ITS) to reduce quality dispute risk.
Current FDY price spreads reflect a shift from scale competition to cost competition. For industry players, reading the numbers on a quote sheet means reading the profit direction for the next six months.