In the second week of July 2026, the textile commodity market displayed a rare polarization. PTA led gains with a 2.25% weekly rise, while acrylonitrile plunged 4.20%. This divergence highlights structural mismatches in supply and demand across the chemical fiber chain.
Background
According to industry public data, during week 27 of 2026 (July 6-10), among 17 monitored textile commodities, only 4 posted price increases, 9 declined, and 4 were flat. The sector's average weekly change was -0.38%, extending the weak consolidation trend of previous weeks.
On the gainers' list, PTA was the standout, rising from 5,780.66 yuan/ton to 5,910.50 yuan/ton, a 2.25% weekly increase, with a year-on-year gain of 21.80%. Polyester staple fiber followed, up 0.95% to 7,332.23 yuan/ton, with a 9.43% year-on-year increase. Cotton yarn 32S and 21S rose 0.61% and 0.28% respectively, but their year-on-year gains slowed to 7.22% and 7.81%.
On the losing side, acrylonitrile slumped from 9,533.33 yuan/ton to 9,133.33 yuan/ton, a 4.20% weekly drop, despite still being 15.61% higher year-on-year. Polyester FDY and DTY fell 1.68% and 1.28%, while polyester POY dropped 0.77%. Notably, cotton prices fell 0.92% to 17,706.00 yuan/ton, with a year-on-year increase of 16.48%.
Industry Impact
The divergence between PTA and polyester filament is the most concerning structural issue this week. PTA, as the upstream raw material for polyester, should theoretically support downstream filament prices, yet FDY, DTY, and POY all declined. This "upstream up, downstream down" scissors effect means polyester filament producers are being squeezed from both sides: rising input costs and falling product prices.
For polyester filament manufacturers, this signal is highly unfavorable. If PTA continues to strengthen while end-use fabric demand remains weak, mills may face pressure to cut operating rates or offer discounts. Given that it is currently the traditional off-season for textiles, with low weaving mill utilization rates, the risk of polyester filament inventory buildup is rising.
The sharp drop in acrylonitrile points to a different logic. As a key raw material for acrylic fiber and ABS, its rapid correction after earlier gains may reflect new capacity coming online or weaker-than-expected downstream demand. For buyers of acrylic yarn and blended fabrics, this could present a window for opportunistic restocking, though caution is warranted to avoid catching a falling knife.
The modest rebound in cotton yarn prices contrasts with the decline in raw cotton. Cotton yarn 32S rose 0.61% to 24,875 yuan/ton, but cotton fell 0.92%. This suggests the yarn price increase is not cost-driven but likely due to localized restocking or structural short-term factors. With cotton yarn 32S up only 7.22% year-on-year versus cotton's 16.48%, profit margins for cotton spinners are clearly compressed.
Viscose staple fiber, spandex, and rayon yarn prices were flat, reflecting a lack of directional momentum across the chemical fiber sector. Raw silk edged down 0.07%, extending its weakness with a year-on-year decline of 10.07%, indicating the silk industry remains in a cyclical trough.