On June 26, 2026, the quotation for polyester FDY 150D/96F semi-dull specification showed a clear signal of narrowing range: from 8,500 CNY/ton from Rongsheng Petrochemical to 8,750 CNY/ton from Tongkun Group, a spread of only 250 CNY. For chemical fiber giants with annual capacities of hundreds of thousands of tons, such near-uniform pricing is hardly coincidental.
The data comes from public quotations of major chemical fiber producers in Zhejiang Province, covering the two main industrial clusters of Hangzhou and Shaoxing. Among the six companies, five quoted prices in the 8,500–8,650 CNY/ton range, with only Tongkun reporting a high of 8,750 CNY/ton. What is noteworthy is not the highest price, but the closeness between the lowest price and the median—indicating that industry leaders are using pricing strategies to compress the living space of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Capacity Logic Behind Price Convergence
Over the past two years, the capacity expansion of polyester FDY has far exceeded demand growth, causing the industry's average operating rate to once fall below 70% in 2025. However, data from 2026 suggests that capacity elimination is accelerating. Rongsheng Petrochemical and Tongkun Group, as the first-tier players, often set the tone for pricing strategies. When the difference between their quotations is only 250 CNY, it reflects a consensus on both cost and demand sides.
From the cost side, PTA and MEG prices fluctuated within a narrow range in June, limiting the impact of raw material changes on FDY pricing. From the demand side, downstream weaving enterprises generally adopt a just-in-time procurement strategy, shortening their stocking cycles to 7–10 days. This cautious attitude forces chemical fiber plants to exchange volume for price.
Regional Transmission Effects in Zhejiang's Industrial Belt
All six delivery points on the quotation list are located in Zhejiang Province, and the price difference between Hangzhou and Shaoxing has not widened. Shaoxing, as the home of China Light Textile City, has procurement habits that favor short-term and quick orders, so local companies (such as Zhejiang Juxing Chemical Fiber and Zhejiang Jiabao New Fiber) quote prices closer to actual transaction levels. In contrast, Rongsheng Petrochemical and Tongkun Group in Hangzhou, with larger downstream weaving capacities, reflect more of an internal supply-demand balance.
Regional price convergence also means that the impact of logistics costs on terminal prices is diminishing. In the past, differences in transportation costs between delivery points led to price divergence. Now, as chemical fiber companies build their own logistics systems and warehousing networks, regional price spreads have been compressed to negligible levels.
Transmission Effects on the Upstream and Downstream Supply Chain
For weaving enterprises, the narrowing range of FDY quotations reduces the complexity of procurement decisions but also implies less room for price negotiation. When all suppliers quote at the same level, buyers can only gain advantages through non-price factors such as payment terms, delivery cycles, and after-sales service.
For chemical fiber plants, price convergence means transparent profit margins. At a quotation of 8,500 CNY/ton, after deducting polymerization costs and processing fees, the gross profit per ton may be between 300 and 500 CNY. This meager profit state forces companies to either integrate upstream raw materials or extend downstream to the weaving stage to remain competitive.