The chemical fiber market is undergoing a structural price differentiation. Public quotations on June 29, 2026, show that for the same specification of 150D/48F semi-dull AA-grade polyester DTY, Zhejiang Juxing Chemical Fiber quoted 9,000 yuan/ton, while Rongsheng Petrochemical quoted 9,250 yuan/ton, a gap of 250 yuan/ton. While this number alone is not alarming, against the backdrop of current industrial chain pressures, it reveals the different positions of two types of enterprises.
Quotation Divergence: More Than a Numbers Game
The significant price gap for the same specification and region of polyester DTY first reflects differences in corporate assessments of inventory and cash flow. Juxing Chemical Fiber, as a local medium-sized enterprise, faces more direct pressure to clear inventory, using lower prices to accelerate turnover. Rongsheng Petrochemical, as an industry leader with more complete upstream and downstream integration and stronger bargaining power, bases its quotation more on cost floors than market panic. Industry public data indicates that the chemical fiber clusters in Zhejiang's Shaoxing and Hangzhou regions generally faced declining weaving operating rates in the second quarter of 2026, with polyester plant inventory days rising from 15 days in March to about 22 days in June.
This divergence is not an isolated case. From an industrial belt perspective, polyester DTY traders in the Shaoxing area generally report low purchasing willingness from downstream weaving enterprises, with obvious price suppression behavior. In contrast, leading enterprises in the Hangzhou area have stronger pricing power in segments like filament yarn and chips, allowing them to alleviate inventory pressure on single products through internal capacity allocation. This means that for buyers, looking only at average prices or single quotations is no longer sufficient to gauge the true market level.
Dual Squeeze from Costs and Demand
The fundamental reason for the weakening polyester DTY price lies in the dual pressure from the cost side and the demand side. Upstream PTA and MEG prices maintained a weak consolidation in June, with PTA spot prices hovering around 5,500 yuan/ton, down about 8% from the beginning of the year, directly weakening the cost support for polyester filament. Meanwhile, downstream textile and apparel end-consumption recovery has fallen short of expectations. Especially, foreign trade orders, affected by high overseas inflation and destocking cycles, have mainly focused on small urgent orders for chemical fiber raw materials, lacking large order pull.
- Cost side: PTA and MEG prices remain low, compressing polyester plant processing margins near the breakeven line.
- Demand side: Weaving enterprise operating rates are below 60%, with high grey fabric inventory, leading to a wait-and-see attitude toward raw material procurement.
- Inventory pressure: Polyester plant DTY inventory available days exceed 20 days, with some companies actively offering discounts to recover funds.
Under this situation, polyester DTY prices lack short-term rebound momentum. However, it is worth noting that the quotation divergence between leading enterprises and small-to-medium enterprises is actually providing a price discovery mechanism for the market: lower quotations reflect real selling pressure, while higher quotations represent a cautious bottom line for the outlook.
Practical Implications for Procurement and Foreign Trade
For participants in the textile industry chain, the current market structure brings both risks and opportunities. Buyers need to evaluate supplier quotation logic more carefully rather than simply chasing the lowest price. Foreign trade enterprises need to pay attention to exchange rate fluctuations and the rhythm of overseas orders to avoid missing long-term contracts due to short-term raw material price fluctuations.
For Buyers - When comparing quotations from suppliers of different scales, comprehensively assess their delivery capability, quality stability, and payment terms, not just the unit price. The current 250 yuan/ton gap may correspond to different service levels and risk exposures. - Adopt a batch procurement strategy to avoid large one-time stockpiling. In a price downtrend, purchasing as needed can reduce inventory devaluation risk. - Monitor PTA and MEG futures price trends. If raw material prices show signs of a rebound, consider locking in polyester DTY orders in advance.
For Foreign Trade Enterprises - Overseas customers are highly sensitive to chemical fiber product quotations. It is recommended to include raw material price fluctuation clauses in quotations, agreeing on price adjustment mechanisms to prevent export order profits from being eroded by domestic raw material price declines. - Use the current window of low domestic polyester DTY prices to proactively promote cost-effectiveness advantages to traditional markets like Southeast Asia and South Asia, seeking new orders. - Pay attention to quality consistency differences among different brands of polyester DTY. Conduct sample retention and performance testing during the sample confirmation stage to avoid customer complaints due to low-price procurement.
Overall, the divergence in polyester DTY quotations is a normal phenomenon during the industry adjustment period. For practitioners, rather than obsessing over short-term price fluctuations, it is better to use this window to optimize supply chain structures and enhance product added value. The textile industry is transitioning from scale expansion to quality competition. Those who can manage costs and inventory more precisely will take the initiative in the next cycle.