On July 3, 2026, the domestic polyester staple fiber (PSF) market exhibited a rare price divergence: cotton-type PSF quotes ranged between 6,940 and 7,320 yuan/ton, down approximately 3%-5% from the previous month, while water treatment fiber balls held firm at 15,500 yuan/ton, widening the spread to over 8,000 yuan. This structural disparity is not a short-term fluctuation but a microcosm of the long-term divergence between industrial and textile demand.
Cotton-Type Products: Overcapacity and Weak Demand Converge
From the detailed quotes, cotton-type PSF (1.56 dtex*38mm, melt direct spinning) showed a clear gradient: Huahong brand at 6,940 yuan/ton, Yida at 7,150 yuan/ton, Xintuo at 7,200 yuan/ton, and Zhonglei at 7,320 yuan/ton. Prices gradually rose from Jiangsu to Zhejiang but remained below year-ago levels.
Industry public data indicates that in the first half of 2026, new capacity for cotton-type PSF reached approximately 800,000 tons, while downstream spinning and weaving mill operating rates hovered at only 65%-70%. The supply-demand imbalance directly compressed product pricing power, forcing low-end brands to exchange volume for price.
For buyers, the current price range means raw material costs are at a year-to-date low. However, Zhejiang Tianchen Textile Supply Chain Co., Ltd. simultaneously holds quotes for Zhonglei, Xintuo, and Yida brands, indicating ample market liquidity and significant bargaining room for buyers.
Fiber Balls: Industrial Rigid Demand Supports High Pricing
In stark contrast to cotton-type products, fiber ball (ordinary grade) quotes have remained stable at 15,500 yuan/ton for several consecutive weeks. Henan Kaijie Water Treatment Co., Ltd., as the main supplier, offers specifications covering diameters of 30mm, 40mm, and 50mm, all at the same price.
This pricing model suggests a seller-dominated market for fiber balls: the replacement cycle in industrial water treatment is rigid, and supplier concentration is high. Henan Kaijie, located in Zhengzhou, radiates to the northern industrial zone, and its transportation cost advantage also strengthens its pricing power.
It is noteworthy that the price gap between fiber balls and cotton-type PSF has exceeded 8,000 yuan/ton, far beyond the difference in raw material costs. This reflects the technical premium and channel barriers of industrial fibers—ordinary textile mills find it difficult to quickly enter the water treatment field.
Regional and Channel Dynamics: Invisible Levers in the Supply Chain
From the delivery locations, cotton-type products are concentrated in Jiangsu (Xuzhou, Suqian, Wuxi) and Zhejiang (Huzhou), while all fiber balls come from Zhengzhou, Henan. This geographic concentration is not coincidental: Jiangsu is the core area for melt direct spinning capacity, Zhejiang is a textile trade hub, and Henan, with its coal and chemical base, has become a major production center for water treatment materials.
Hebei Chujiao Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. appears in both Zhonglei and Huahong quotes, indicating that northern traders are cross-regionally sourcing goods. This may intensify price competition in East China—when northern demand is insufficient, surplus supply will flow back to southern markets.