In the final week of June 2026, the Changshu polyester filament market delivered a telling snapshot: trading volumes remained lackluster while price centers continued their downward drift. The core FDY 100D/48F specification dropped 100 yuan per ton over two days, landing at 8,700 yuan per ton. This is no isolated event, but a microcosm of the dual pressure the entire polyester chain faces—from raw material costs to end demand.
Price Divergence: Mid-Denier Specs Bear the Brunt
Comparing quotes from June 25 to June 28 reveals a market that is not uniformly weak. Fine-denier grades such as FDY 68D/24F and 75D/36F, along with coarse-denier grades like FDY 150D/96F, held steady, showing notable resilience. The real pressure fell on the mid-range 100D to 150D segment: FDY 100D/48F saw clear declines, while DTY 75D/36F, 100D/36F, and 150D/144F each dropped 100 yuan per ton.
This divergence signals a clear message. Fine-denier yarns are used in high-density fabrics and silk-like textiles; coarse-denier yarns serve luggage and home textiles—both enjoy relatively inelastic demand. The 100D-150D range, however, is the workhorse for conventional woven fabrics. Its price weakness directly reflects downstream weaving mills' pessimistic order outlook for mainstream varieties: they are unwilling to build inventory or chase prices.
Cost Transmission Fails, Polyester Mills Under Pressure
The trigger for this polyester price correction was softness in raw materials. PTA and MEG continued to drift lower through late June, eroding support for polyester chip costs. But more critically, the cost decline failed to stimulate panic buying downstream; instead, it intensified a wait-and-see stance. As a bellwether for the Jiangsu-Zhejiang weaving cluster, the Changshu market's sluggish trade directly mirrors weak orders from apparel and home textile end-users.
On the supply side, major mills like Tongkun, Xinfengming, and Rongsheng adopted differentiated strategies: holding firm on popular specs while offering concessions on slower-moving items. For DTY 150D/144F, Xinfengming cut prices by 100 yuan, while Rongsheng maintained 9,400 yuan—brand premium and customer loyalty acting as a buffer.
Industry Impact: Mills Stick to 'De-stocking' Mode
Current weaving loom utilization rates in Changshu and surrounding areas have pulled back from their May peak, with some small to medium mills opting for staggered production due to insufficient orders. Polyester procurement has further contracted from 'replenish as needed' to 'buy as you use.' This zero-inventory strategy, while mitigating raw material depreciation risk, continues to depress polyester plants' sales-to-production ratios.
If polyester raw materials fail to rebound in early July, filament prices are likely to continue their gradual decline, especially in the DTY draw-textured yarn segment—where processing margins are already nearing breakeven. For traders reliant on conventional grey fabrics, this late-June price adjustment may be just the beginning.