The price gap between melt-spun and chip-spun polyester DTY is widening. On July 3, 2026, industry data showed Rongsheng Petrochemical quoting 9,150 yuan/ton for 150D/48F AA-grade semi-dull DTY, while Zhejiang Juxing Chemical quoted 9,000 yuan/ton—a 150 yuan/ton spread. This is not random fluctuation but a reflection of cost transmission differences between the two process routes.
The Cost Divide by Process
Melt-spun DTY integrates polymerization, spinning, and texturing, eliminating chip drying and remelting, saving 8%-12% in energy per ton. Rongsheng, with its large-scale PTA-polyester-spinning integration, enjoys significant scale and energy cost advantages. In contrast, medium-sized chip-spun players like Juxing face greater pressure from raw material chip price volatility.
With PTA and MEG prices in high-range fluctuation, chip-spun mills see raw material costs exceed 75% of total, while melt-spun mills keep it below 70%. The 150 yuan spread essentially reflects the degree of vertical integration.
Regional Supply-Demand Temperature Differences
Quotation locations reveal distinct regional market dynamics. Rongsheng quotes from Hangzhou, while Juxing quotes from Shaoxing—a major textile weaving cluster with numerous small-to-medium mills. Shaoxing's weaving operating rate hovers around 75%, but new orders are mostly small, fast-turnaround lots, prompting buyers to minimize inventory. This "buy-as-needed" approach makes Shaoxing quotes more responsive to spot market bargaining. Hangzhou, home to large petrochemical firms, reflects longer-term contract pricing with less elasticity.
Downstream Procurement Implications
The price divergence directly impacts purchasing strategies. For mills producing standard taffeta or pongee, 150D/48F DTY is a staple. When the spread exceeds 100 yuan/ton, buyers begin evaluating supplier switches.
However, melt-spun DTY offers slightly better dyeing uniformity and lower boiling water shrinkage—its dyeing M rate is typically 2-3 percentage points higher. For export or branded orders, this quality variable must be weighed against cost savings.
Short- and Medium-Term Price Signals
Historically, July marks a slow season for polyester filament, with mills destocking. The early-July price divergence may signal two trends:
- Short term: Melt-spun mills may use cost advantages to cut prices and clear inventory, squeezing chip-spun margins.
- Medium term: If chip-spun mills cannot reduce costs via technology upgrades, industry consolidation will accelerate, increasing market concentration.