Changshu Polyester Filament Market Weakens: Price Divergence Amid Supply-Demand Tug-of-War and Future Outlook

In the first week of July 2026, trading in the Changshu polyester filament yarn market notably thinned, with prices for certain specifications beginning to soften. According to industry public data, from July 2 to July 5, the ex-tax prices for FDY 75D/36F (from Xiaoshan Shuangtu and Tongxiang Xinfengming) each dropped by 100 yuan/ton, reaching 8,800 yuan/ton and 8,700 yuan/ton respectively. More notably, the decline in the DTY series was more pronounced, with DTY 100D/36F (from Jiangsu Taicang and Jiangsu Wujiang) both falling by 200 yuan/ton to 9,600 yuan/ton and 9,700 yuan/ton.\n\n## Market Context: Price Pressure Amid Shrinking Volumes\n\nThis price adjustment is not an isolated event but a concentrated reflection of the current supply-demand contradiction in the polyester filament market. Overall trading volumes were low, with downstream weaving mills adopting a just-in-time purchasing strategy and lacking the willingness to build large inventories. Upstream polyester raw material prices continued to fluctuate, failing to provide cost-side support for polyester yarn prices, instead exacerbating market caution. Looking at specific categories, except for FDY 75D/36F, other FDY specifications such as 68D/24F, 100D/48F, and 150D/36F remained stable, indicating relatively steady demand for conventional fine-denier products. In contrast, for the DTY series, aside from DTY 150D/48F (from Xiaoshan Kaishi) which held steady, most other specifications saw declines of 100-200 yuan/ton, suggesting more cautious procurement of textured yarn by downstream users.\n\n## Industry Impact: Price Divergence Reflects Changing Demand Structure\n\nThe clear divergence in price performance across different specifications in this round signals a shift in downstream demand structure. FDY 75D/36F, a key specification for conventional water-jet weaving, directly reflects insufficient orders at the weaving end. The widespread decline in DTY series prices is linked to weak demand in the end-use apparel fabric market for stretch fabrics. Notably, prices for the FDY bright series remained flat across the board, possibly due to demand resilience in specific applications such as linings and decorative fabrics. For buyers, this means future raw material procurement needs to be more granular, without a blanket bullish or bearish outlook. For mills, this adjustment will compress profit margins, especially for small and medium-sized polyester yarn producers with narrow product portfolios reliant on conventional specifications, who will face greater operational pressure.\n\n## Practical Recommendations\n\n### For Buyers\n- Given the strong wait-and-see sentiment and potential for further price declines, it is advisable to purchase on a need-to basis and avoid building excessive inventory during a price downtrend.\n- Focus on DTY series products, which have seen larger price drops; consider negotiating more flexible payment terms or locking in short-term favorable prices with suppliers.\n- For stable-priced specifications like FDY 100D/48F and 150D/36F, maintain a normal procurement pace without rushing to replenish.\n\n### For Foreign Trade Enterprises\n- Monitor the impact of RMB exchange rate fluctuations on the price competitiveness of polyester yarn exports; consider including price adjustment clauses in long-term contracts.\n- Use the current window of domestic polyester yarn price corrections to reassess overseas order costs and strive for more competitive quotes.\n- Closely track upstream PTA and MEG price trends, as further declines will directly transmit to polyester yarn cost structures, allowing for adjustments in procurement strategies accordingly.