On July 3, 2026, a noteworthy signal emerged in the domestic polyester DTY (150D/48F, AA-grade semi-dull textured yarn) market: the same grade and specification product showed a price difference of 150 yuan/ton between the two core industrial belts of Hangzhou and Shaoxing, with quotes of 9,150 yuan/ton and 9,000 yuan/ton respectively.
While this figure is not huge in itself, against the backdrop of overall pressure on the polyester industry chain, it reflects not simple price fluctuations, but distinctly different judgments by companies of varying scales and regions facing the same market.
Logic Behind the Regional Price Gap
Public quotes show Rongsheng Petrochemical (Hangzhou) listing at 9,150 yuan/ton, while Zhejiang Juxing Chemical Fiber (Shaoxing) quotes 9,000 yuan/ton. Both are in Zhejiang Province, barely 100 kilometers apart, yet their pricing strategies diverge sharply.
As a domestic polyester leader, Rongsheng's quotes often carry an 'anchoring' effect. The 9,150 yuan/ton level likely reflects its insistence on cost support from raw materials (PTA, MEG) and expectations of rigid restocking demand from downstream weaving mills.
In contrast, Juxing's lower quote of 9,000 yuan/ton (a 1.6% discount) leans more toward a 'volume-for-price' strategy. Shaoxing hosts a large number of small and medium weaving enterprises, where terminal demand recovery is relatively slow. Inventory pressure may force some chemical fiber plants to offer concessions to accelerate cash flow.
This implies that the same DTY 150D/48F is treated as a 'price-stabilizing' product in Hangzhou but as a 'destocking' product in Shaoxing. The differing mindsets of the two types of enterprises are directly reflected in the numbers.
Impact on Downstream Procurement Decisions
For fabric mills and weaving factories, this price gap provides clear short-term operational space.
- If buyers primarily rely on local Shaoxing suppliers, the current 9,000 yuan/ton quote is attractive, especially for cash-sensitive factories looking to reduce raw material costs.
- However, considering logistics costs and supply stability, Hangzhou's higher quote of 9,150 yuan/ton may be favored by large-scale weaving enterprises due to Rongsheng's supply reliability and consistent quality.
Furthermore, this gap may trigger regional 'arbitrage procurement.' Some traders might source low-priced goods from Shaoxing and distribute them around Hangzhou, potentially narrowing the gap in the short term.
Looking at a longer cycle, if downstream demand fails to pick up, the 9,000 yuan/ton quote could become the new market 'anchor,' forcing other companies to follow suit. Conversely, if PTA raw material prices rebound, the 9,150 yuan/ton quote may be the first to be accepted by the market.
Continued Industry Pressure
The price divergence in polyester DTY is just a microcosm of the overall profit pressure currently facing the textile chemical fiber industry.
Upstream PTA capacity continues to expand, and the loose supply situation is unlikely to change in the short term. Although downstream weaving machine operating rates have rebounded after the summer off-peak production period, new orders are mostly small and short-term, lacking sustained support.
In this 'sandwich' state, chemical fiber companies are forced to choose between 'protecting profits' and 'protecting cash flow.' The price difference between Rongsheng and Juxing is a local reflection of this industry-wide anxiety.