The polyester staple fiber market is witnessing a tale of two tracks: industrial-grade fiber balls remain firmly priced, while textile-grade products face dual pressures of weak demand and falling prices. Public quotation data on July 11, 2026, shows that ordinary fiber balls with diameters of 30 to 50 millimeters were all quoted at RMB 15,500 per ton ex-works in Zhengzhou, Henan Province—a level that has remained unchanged for several consecutive weeks.
Industrial Demand Resilience Stands Out
Fiber balls, as key filtration materials in industrial water treatment, owe their price stability to non-cyclical demand drivers. Stricter environmental regulations are pushing industrial wastewater treatment facility upgrades, directly fueling demand for filtration media. The flat quotation from major suppliers like Henan Kaijie indicates a balanced supply-demand dynamic, where industrial clients are less price-sensitive than textile and apparel buyers, prioritizing performance and supply reliability over cost. In contrast, textile-grade polyester staple fiber prices have been under pressure. Although this specific quotation data does not cover textile-grade categories, industry public information shows that transaction prices in major textile clusters like Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian have fallen by approximately 3% to 5% since the beginning of the second quarter. Fluctuations in feedstock PTA prices have failed to provide cost support, while end-user apparel export orders have slowed significantly due to high inventory levels in major consumer markets.
Cracks in the Upstream-Downstream Transmission Mechanism
Behind this structural divergence lies a subtle change in the transmission mechanism of the polyester industry chain. In the past, price fluctuations across the polyester chain were often synchronized. But now, the spread between industrial-grade and textile-grade products is widening. For buyers, this means reassessing product portfolios: companies overly reliant on textile-grade staple fiber may face margin compression, while those investing in industrial-grade products gain more stable profitability. From a regional industrial cluster perspective, clusters like Shengze and Changxing, which focus on textile fabrics, have seen increased inventory turnover days for polyester staple fiber, with some small-to-medium spinning mills starting to proactively cut production. In contrast, industrial filter material producers in Henan and Shandong maintain high operating rates—a stark contrast.
Price Expectations and Procurement Strategy Adjustments
Looking ahead to the second half of the year, the divergence in the polyester staple fiber market is likely to intensify. Industrial-grade fiber ball prices are expected to remain stable or even edge up, as the 'dual carbon' targets accelerate industrial water conservation and reclaimed water utilization projects, potentially boosting filtration material demand. Textile-grade polyester staple fiber faces a more complex outlook: without a significant rebound in crude oil prices, cost-side support will be weak, and end-demand recovery still awaits destocking by European and American apparel retailers. Prices are expected to maintain a weak and volatile trend in the near term.