The textile commodity price data for the 25th week of 2026 reveals a key signal: the raw material market is shifting from broad-based gains to structural divergence. Cotton yarn 21S and 32S posted weekly gains of only 0.14% and 0.10%, while acrylonitrile, PTA, and polyester DTY suffered weekly declines of 6.92%, 5.10%, and 2.60% respectively, dragging the sector average down by 1.65%. This pattern of 'cotton strong, chemical fiber weak' is not an isolated incident but a concentrated reflection of the industry's supply-demand rebalancing.
Cotton Yarn Stands Alone: Cost Pass-Through and Demand Resilience
Cotton yarn was the only textile category to rise this week, with 21S and 32S closing at RMB 23,400/ton and RMB 24,725/ton, up 7.50% and 6.57% year-on-year. This contrasts with the raw cotton price, which fell 1.23% week-on-week to RMB 17,417.67/ton, although still up 16.08% year-on-year. The modest uptick in cotton yarn suggests persistent rigid demand from downstream weaving mills, especially in higher-count yarn segments, where orders have not contracted sharply despite raw material volatility. However, the extremely limited gain indicates that end buyers are highly price-sensitive and reluctant to chase prices, with most purchases being need-based replenishment.
Collapse in Chemical Raw Materials: Deep Logic Behind PTA and Acrylonitrile
PTA fell 5.10% week-on-week to RMB 5,734/ton, while acrylonitrile plunged 6.92% to RMB 10,083.33/ton. Despite year-on-year increases of 12.80% and 25.00% respectively, this week's sharp corrections signal that previous high prices are unsustainable. PTA's decline is directly linked to softening upstream PX costs and falling polyester operating rates — all polyester filament yarns (POY, FDY, DTY) followed suit, with declines ranging from 1.62% to 2.60%. Acrylonitrile's slump stems more from weak demand in acrylic fiber and ABS resin sectors, combined with increased supply after some plants resumed production post-maintenance. This round of decline means that profits in the chemical fiber chain are shifting from raw materials to processing stages, putting downward pressure on downstream products like polyester and acrylic fibers.
Nylon and Viscose: Stable but Soft, Awaiting Direction
Nylon products fell between 0.88% and 1.21% this week, with nylon DTY at RMB 15,840/ton, nylon POY at RMB 13,650/ton, and nylon FDY at RMB 16,300/ton, showing year-on-year gains of 5.50% to 8.98%. Viscose staple fiber remained flat at RMB 14,200/ton, and rayon yarn stayed at RMB 17,925/ton, with year-on-year increases of 9.06% and 3.17%. The stability in these two sectors reflects relatively firm upstream raw material prices for caprolactam and dissolving pulp, but downstream demand has not shown clear recovery, leaving the market in a narrow range with both upside and downside capped. For buyers, the current price range offers a decent locking window, but they should be cautious about potential catch-down risks from the raw material side.
Raw Silk and Spandex: Weakness Continues, Inventory Pressure Evident
Raw silk fell 1.99% week-on-week to RMB 428,100/ton, turning negative year-on-year at -10.12%, the worst performer in that metric. This directly reflects the oversupply in the cocoon and silk market — with increased spring cocoon supply and slowing growth in silk garment export orders, inventories are building up. Spandex fell 0.56% to RMB 29,666.67/ton, but was still up 21.09% year-on-year, suggesting that after excessive earlier gains, the market is digesting the demand suppression caused by high prices. These two segments remind the industry that even when some raw materials show strong year-on-year gains, short-term price correction risks cannot be ignored, especially when end demand fails to keep pace.