15,500 RMB per ton—a price point confirmed repeatedly on July 11, 2026. Henan Kaijie Water Treatment Co., Ltd. quoted its ordinary fiber balls in three diameters (30mm, 40mm, and 50mm) at this identical level. For those who follow the water treatment materials market, this figure sends a more complex signal than it appears.
Price Anchoring: Not Coincidence, but Industrial Logic
Three specifications at the same price is a phenomenon worth examining. Normally, different diameters affect filtration accuracy and packing density, leading to distinct cost structures. When prices converge, two possibilities emerge: either raw material costs are so homogeneous that specification differences become negligible, or the market is a buyer's market where suppliers flatten premiums to maintain customer loyalty. For a regional supplier like Henan Kaijie, the latter is more likely—simplifying pricing is itself a way to reduce transaction costs in industrial procurement.
Upstream Transmission: The Shadow of Polyester Staple Fiber
Fiber balls rely on polyester staple fiber (PSF) as their core raw material, and PSF price fluctuations directly determine the cost floor. In the first half of 2026, the domestic PSF market experienced an initial rise followed by stabilization: in Q1, driven by crude oil price increases and tight PTA supply, PSF ex-factory prices rose from 7,200 to 7,600 RMB/ton; in Q2, as new capacity came online and downstream demand growth slowed, prices fell back to around 7,400 RMB/ton and remained flat. The stability of fiber ball prices in mid-July is a lagged reflection of this upstream plateau.
Regional Industrial Cluster: Henan's Water Treatment Hub
Henan is a major production base for water treatment materials in China, with cities like Zhengzhou, Gongyi, and Luoyang hosting numerous fiber ball, activated carbon, and quartz sand manufacturers. Henan Kaijie, based in Zhengzhou, represents the mid-to-upper pricing level of the central region. Compared with coastal regions like Jiangsu and Shandong, Henan enjoys advantages in labor costs and environmental compliance expenses but faces logistics radius constraints. The current price of 15,500 RMB/ton sits at the midpoint of the national average range of 15,400-15,600 RMB/ton, indicating that the central region is shifting from a price follower to a stabilizer.
Demand Side: Dual Support from Industry and Municipalities
Fiber balls are primarily used in industrial wastewater treatment, municipal sewage advanced treatment, and circulating water filtration. In the first half of 2026, China's wastewater treatment capacity continued to expand. According to publicly available data from the National Bureau of Statistics, fixed asset investment in the wastewater treatment and recycling industry grew by 8.3% year-on-year from January to May. On the industrial side, stricter discharge standards for chemicals, steel, and textile dyeing sectors directly boosted demand for efficient filtration materials. However, downstream buyers have adopted a "procure as needed, keep low inventory" strategy, leading to shorter order cycles and smaller batch sizes—another reason prices are unlikely to fluctuate significantly.
Price Outlook: Short-Term on Costs, Medium-Term on Policy
- Short term (1-3 months): PSF prices are expected to stay within the 7,300-7,500 RMB/ton range, providing stable cost support for fiber balls, with quotes likely holding at 15,400-15,600 RMB/ton.
- Medium term (6-12 months): If national industrial wastewater discharge standards are further tightened (e.g., the revised version of the Discharge Standard of Water Pollutants for Dyeing and Finishing of Textile Industry), fiber ball demand may see a phased increase, potentially pushing prices toward 16,000 RMB/ton.
- Risk factors: Sharp crude oil price swings, concentrated release of new PTA capacity, and local environmental production restrictions could disrupt the current balance.