PTA Defies Downtrend, Textile Raw Material Market Divergence Intensifies: Analysis for Second Week of July 2026

PTA rose 2.25% in a week, while acrylonitrile plunged 4.20%—the second week of July 2026 presented a stark divergence in the textile raw material market. According to data from a major commodity monitoring platform, among 17 tracked varieties, only 4 advanced, 9 declined, and the overall average change was -0.38%. These numbers signal a fragile balance and shifting downstream order structures.

Upstream Divergence: PTA Strength vs. Acrylonitrile Collapse

PTA jumped from 5,780 yuan/ton to 5,910 yuan/ton, up 21.80% year-on-year, driven by tight PX supply and high polyester operating rates. In contrast, acrylonitrile fell 4.20% to 9,133 yuan/ton, despite a 15.61% annual gain, reflecting weak demand for acrylic and ABS resins and inventory pressure. Within polyester filament, POY, FDY, and DTY dropped 0.77%, 1.68%, and 1.28% respectively, indicating that weaving mills' lower operating rates are squeezing margins despite PTA's cost push.

Cotton vs. Chemical Fibers: Two Parallel Logics

Cotton yarn 32S and 21S rose 0.61% and 0.28%, while lint cotton edged down 0.92% to 17,706 yuan/ton, still 16.48% higher year-on-year. The pattern of rising yarn and falling cotton suggests downstream mills are cautiously restocking, but high costs limit buying. In chemical fibers, polyester staple fiber rose 0.95% in tandem with PTA, while all polyester filament varieties fell. Viscose, spandex, and rayon staple remained flat, indicating a lack of uniform momentum. Spandex's 21.09% annual gain is near historical highs, prompting substitution considerations.

Nylon and Raw Silk: Signals from Niche Varieties

Nylon FDY, DTY, and POY fell 0.31% to 0.92% weekly, with annual gains of 6% to 9%, but the downtrend is confirmed. This may reflect softer brand orders. Raw silk edged down 0.07% to 425,700 yuan/ton, with a 10.07% annual decline, the only variety with negative yearly change. Persistent weakness in the silk market pressures traditional producing regions in Zhejiang and Jiangsu.

From a regional perspective, PTA strength benefits Shaoxing and Xiaoshan polyester clusters, while falling filament prices ease cost pressures for weaving hubs like Shengze and Changxing. Cotton mills in Shandong and Henan face narrowing procurement windows and should watch for price volatility in H2.

Practical Recommendations

For Buyers - Manage polyester feedstock inventories cautiously above 5,900 yuan/ton for PTA, avoiding chasing highs. - Maintain low inventories for acrylonitrile after the sharp drop, waiting for bottom confirmation. - Shorten order cycles for cotton yarn as lint cotton shows weakness; prepare for potential yarn price corrections.

For Foreign Trade Companies - Use the nylon price decline to renegotiate with Southeast Asian clients for better margins in H2 orders. - For raw silk, factor in exchange rate fluctuations when quoting European and American customers; avoid long-term fixed-price contracts. - Adjust polyester product quotes promptly based on raw material cost changes; avoid long-term fixed-price agreements.