Supply Disruption? Taizhou Winds Rattle Polyester Filament Market in Shengze and Jiaxing

In mid-July, the light textile market in Shengze and Jiaxing did not see the expected seasonal surge; instead, a typhoon disrupted the rhythm. On July 11-12, transaction volumes of polyester filament in both areas dropped significantly, with downstream weaving and texturing enterprises adopting a cautious 'small batch, frequent purchase' strategy. However, prices did not collapse simultaneously, as major polyester plants maintained stable offers, creating a rare 'volume down, price stable' pattern.

Typhoon Impact on Procurement Logic

The direct cause of the volume slump was extreme weather. The typhoon disrupted logistics, preventing normal cargo pickup and heightening concerns about raw material availability. Product differentiation was evident: semi-dull FDY 54D/24F, 68D/24F, and 75D/36F fine denier yarns maintained sales momentum, mainly for warp knitting. Bright FDY 150D for water-jet oxford fabric and nylon-polyester weft yarns saw active trading, with quotes stable at 8350-8400 yuan/ton.

Notably, functional differentiated products acted as market stabilizers. FDY 75D/36F black yarn and DTY 75D black yarn maintained demand despite the off-season, used for water-jet imitation memory fabric and lining materials like black dot silk. This suggests that while conventional specifications face inventory pressure, differentiated products with specific end-uses still enjoy stable order support.

DTY Network Yarn: An Underestimated All-Rounder

Against the backdrop of overall weak trading, DTY network yarn stood out. DTY 150D/96F and 200D/96F network yarns sold well due to wide fabric applications, including oxford fabric and satin crepe. Semi-dull DTY 75D/72F and 100D/144F network yarns found demand in both water-jet and warp knitting sectors, showing strong resilience.

The logic behind this: network yarn improves fiber cohesion through physical intermingling, reducing the need for sizing, offering cost advantages for small and medium weaving mills seeking efficiency. When end orders are uncertain, mills prefer such 'versatile' raw materials to handle multi-variety, small-batch production. In contrast, POY demand for texturing and intertwining was tepid, indicating weak restocking intentions in the texturing segment, with inventory pressure shifting from downstream to upstream.

Yarn Market: Local Bright Spots Amid Overall Weakness

The yarn market also showed a mixed picture. Cotton yarn prices were stable, but demand for 21s and J32s air-jet yarn rose slightly, mainly for air-jet cotton-nylon fabric, hinting at early autumn/winter apparel orders. Rayon yarn 30s remained active for diamond cotton fabric, with viscose staple fiber prices consolidating around 14,200 yuan/ton, and the market expects moderate adjustments soon.

For pure polyester yarn, the 45s variant sold relatively well, but overall prices adjusted steadily. Polyester staple fiber 1.56*38mm cotton-type center price held at 7,650 yuan/ton, with further adjustments expected. Polyester-cotton and polyester-viscose yarns remained stable but weak in trading sentiment.

Practical Recommendations

For Buyers - Consider phased purchasing of FDY fine denier and DTY network yarns, as these show stronger demand resilience and limited downside. - Include force majeure clauses in contracts for typhoon-related disruptions, and secure alternative logistics routes in advance. - Monitor PTA and MEG futures; if feedstock prices drop sharply, increase procurement volumes to lower costs.

For Exporters - With polyester prices in a 'volume down, price stable' phase, lock in raw material costs for 15-20 days when quoting to avoid margin erosion from price swings during order cycles. - For markets requiring eco-certifications, prioritize network yarns (which eliminate sizing) to reduce carbon footprint in downstream processes. - The localized pickup in rayon and cotton yarns warrants attention; communicate with fabric mills early on yarn specifications for autumn/winter orders to avoid supply tightness during peak season.