Structural Divergence in Textile Raw Material Prices: Cotton Yarn Rises Modestly, Acrylonitrile and PTA Lead Losses

The textile raw material market showed clear structural divergence in the fourth week of June 2026. According to publicly available industry data, among 17 monitored commodities, only 2 posted week-on-week gains while 13 declined, dragging the overall average down by 1.65%. The proportion of items falling more than 5% hit 11.8%, the first time in three months this threshold was breached, signaling that upstream cost pressure is transmitting downstream, albeit unevenly.

Upstream Pressure: Acrylonitrile and PTA Lead Losses

Acrylonitrile fell the most, dropping 6.92% from 10,833 to 10,083 yuan per ton, though still up 25% year-on-year. This correction stems from ample supply after recent capacity additions and weak downstream demand from acrylic fiber and ABS resin sectors. PTA followed with a 5.10% decline to 5,734 yuan per ton, its year-on-year gain narrowing to 12.80%. The drop is linked to weaker crude oil prices, collapsing PX costs, and high polyester inventory. Polyester filament products fell in sympathy: POY, DTY, and FDY dropped 2.36%, 2.60%, and 1.62% respectively, with DTY breaking below 9,400 yuan per ton. For fabric buyers, this means polyester and nylon raw material costs will remain low in the near term. Nylon DTY, POY, and FDY fell 0.88%, 1.09%, and 1.21%, while viscose staple fiber held flat at 14,200 yuan and spandex edged down only 0.56% to 29,667 yuan, reflecting tighter supply-demand balances in those segments.

Cotton Yarn Defies the Downtrend

In stark contrast, cotton yarns posted modest gains. Cotton yarn 21S rose 0.14% to 23,400 yuan per ton, and 32S gained 0.10% to 24,725 yuan per ton, with year-on-year increases of 7.50% and 6.57% respectively. Raw cotton fell 1.23% to 17,418 yuan per ton, compressing spinning margins. The resilience of cotton yarn prices reflects restocking demand from weaving mills, as inventory levels remain at historical lows. Export orders from Southeast Asia have rebounded 3-5 percentage points quarter-on-quarter. Raw silk was a notable loser among natural fibers, falling 1.99% to 428,100 yuan per ton and down 10.12% year-on-year, pressured by weak demand for silk fabrics and higher cocoon supply.

Practical Implications for the Supply Chain

The current price pattern—upstream falling, downstream stable—offers clear signals. For chemical fiber buyers, further declines are likely, especially for PTA and acrylonitrile. A phased, small-lot purchasing approach is recommended to avoid locking in high prices. Cotton yarn buyers should monitor raw cotton prices: if they break below 17,000 yuan per ton, cotton yarn support may weaken and a catch-down could occur.

For Purchasers - Delay large-volume price locking for polyester and nylon fabrics; expect another 2-3% drop in the next two weeks. - For cotton yarn, buy on demand and watch raw cotton’s support at 17,000 yuan per ton—if breached, consider increasing orders. - Raw silk is at a year-to-date low; buyers of high-end silk fabrics can lock in Q3 volumes now.

For Exporters - Export quotes should account for the lag in raw material prices; current polyester declines are not fully reflected in fabric offers, so FOB prices can be adjusted downward to win orders. - Southeast Asian demand for cotton goods is picking up—prioritize cotton orders while hedging currency risk. - Monitor PTA futures closely; if they fall below 5,500 yuan per ton, polyester fabric costs will drop sharply, enabling price renegotiations with clients.