Viscose staple fiber prices are approaching a three-year ceiling. Industry data shows that on July 1, 2026, the benchmark price of viscose staple fiber 1.2D settled at 14,200 CNY/ton, a cumulative increase of over 10% from the year's low of 12,800 CNY/ton. This level is not only the year's high but also the peak of the past three-year statistical cycle.
Price Trends and Cost Logic
Looking at the annual price range, viscose staple fiber 1.2D has shown a clear stepwise upward trajectory over the past 12 months. The lowest point appeared in early July 2025 at 12,800 CNY/ton, after which prices climbed steadily to the high of 14,200 CNY/ton in July 2026. The average price over the entire statistical period was 13,200.71 CNY/ton, with the current price exceeding the average by about 7.6%.
Behind this round of increases lies the superposition of multiple cost factors. The price of upstream dissolving pulp has continued to strengthen, combined with production restriction policies and routine environmental inspections in some domestic production areas, leading to a contraction in viscose staple fiber supply. Meanwhile, the operating rates of downstream rayon yarn and blended products have remained at relatively high levels, with supply and demand jointly pushing up the price center.
Notably, the current price has entered the "overbought" warning zone — data indicates that this level has triggered overbought alerts on one-year, two-year, and three-year dimensions. This means that unless there is a significant pullback on the cost side, a short-term downward inflection point for viscose staple fiber prices is unlikely.
Transmission Effects on the Industry Chain
Viscose staple fiber is a key raw material in the midstream of the textile industry chain, and its price fluctuations directly affect the production costs of rayon yarn, vortex-spun yarn, and various blended fabrics. At the current level of 14,200 CNY/ton, the raw material cost per ton for yarn enterprises that primarily use viscose has increased by about 1,400 CNY year-on-year, an increase of over 10%.
This cost pressure is being transmitted downstream. According to industry feedback, some small and medium-sized rayon yarn mills have begun to reduce production capacity and actively lower inventory to avoid the risk of high raw material prices. On the fabric procurement side, there is a clear wait-and-see attitude — traders and apparel brands are more cautious when quoting orders, preferring short orders and quick orders over long-term lock-ins.
From the export perspective, the impact of rising viscose staple fiber prices is particularly significant for textile enterprises whose main export products are rayon yarn and rayon fabric. Against the backdrop of no synchronized increase in overseas demand, rising costs directly erode export profits. Some buyers in Southeast Asian markets have begun to shift inquiries to alternative fiber varieties with more competitive pricing.