The balance of polyester DTY prices is tilting. On July 3, 2026, public industry data showed a 150 yuan/ton price gap for the same specification of 150D/48F AA-grade semi-dull low-elastic yarn between two major suppliers: Rongsheng Petrochemical quoted 9,150 yuan/ton, while Zhejiang Juxing Chemical Fiber quoted only 9,000 yuan/ton. This subtle but clear divergence signals deeper fractures in the textile supply chain.
Logic Behind the Price Divergence
At first glance, the difference between 9,150 and 9,000 yuan seems minor. Yet against the backdrop of an overall pressured polyester filament market, this divergence exposes deep structural cracks. Polyester DTY's direct raw material is POY (pre-oriented yarn), which in turn is affected by upstream PTA (purified terephthalic acid) and MEG (monoethylene glycol) prices. Recent volatility in international crude oil and alternating PTA plant maintenance and restarts have destabilized raw material cost support. Rongsheng, as an integrated PTA and polyester filament leader, tends to price closer to raw material cost changes, while specialized fiber firms like Zhejiang Juxing, facing inventory pressure or regional competition, may offer discounts to move product.
From a regional industrial cluster perspective, Rongsheng is based in Hangzhou, while Zhejiang Juxing is in Shaoxing. Although both are in Zhejiang Province, Shaoxing—one of China's largest textile clusters—has a higher density of weaving enterprises with greater demand elasticity for polyester DTY. When downstream orders are insufficient and weaving machine operating rates decline, local fiber plants in Shaoxing face more direct sales pressure, making price cuts to reduce inventory a natural choice. Hangzhou-based fiber companies, with potentially different customer structures and higher long-term contract ratios, adjust prices more slowly.
Supply-Demand Imbalance Transmission
The 150D/48F specification of polyester DTY is a common raw material for water-jet looms producing conventional fabrics, so its price directly impacts greige fabric costs. The downstream market currently exhibits a 'peak season without peak' pattern: apparel brands are cautious with orders, home textile export growth is slowing, and weaving enterprises' purchasing willingness is weak. The inventory transfer chain from fiber plants to weaving mills is blocked, forcing fiber makers to compete for limited orders through pricing.
Notably, the 'AA-grade' premium standard in these quotes indicates stable product quality, yet the price gap still exists. This suggests the market is driven not by quality but by inventory and cash flow. For buyers, a low price may signal a supplier's urgency to recover capital, but it could also carry risks of subsequent supply stability issues.
From a broader industry cycle perspective, new polyester filament capacity has been released at an accelerating pace in the first half of 2026, while end-demand growth has fallen far short of expectations. Public data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that fixed asset investment in the textile industry has declined for two consecutive quarters, with overcapacity pressure transmitting from raw materials to intermediate products. As a product of the texturing process, polyester DTY's price trend has become a leading indicator of the health of the chemical fiber-weaving industry chain.