The passage of a typhoon brought more than just wind and rain—it abruptly slowed the procurement pace of downstream weaving mills. On July 11-12, trading activity in the textile raw material markets of Shengze and Jiaxing cooled noticeably, with overall polyester filament yarn volumes declining significantly from earlier periods. However, the divergent performance among product varieties offered structural highlights for the market.
Polyester Yarn Market: Typhoon Suppresses Volumes, Variety Divergence Intensifies
Major polyester plants maintained flat offers, temporarily stabilizing the price system. Semi-dull FDY 150D/96F was quoted at 9,050 RMB/ton, and DTY 150D/48F at 8,150 RMB/ton, both unchanged from the previous week. However, the typhoon directly dampened downstream restocking appetite, with most weaving mills adopting a "small batch, frequent purchase" strategy, resulting in low overall transaction volumes.
From a variety perspective, the market showed a clear "ice and fire" pattern. Semi-dull FDY 54D/24F, 68D/24F, and 75D/36F—fine denier products used mainly in warp knitting—continued to sell actively, indicating resilience in warp-knitted orders. Bright FDY 150D remained relatively active due to its use in water-jet oxford fabric and polyester-nylon blended weft yarns, with quotes concentrated between 8,350 and 8,400 RMB/ton. Notably, demand for FDY 75D/36F black yarn and DTY 75D black yarn both rose, the former for water-jet memory fabric and the latter for black dot satin and black twill lining fabrics, signaling an early start to autumn/winter stocking in black lining categories.
DTY network yarns performed prominently. Semi-dull DTY 75D/72F and 100D/144F network yarns saw stable demand across both water-jet and warp knitting applications. DTY 150D/96F and 200D/96F network yarns became recent "star varieties" due to their wide weaving applicability in products like oxford fabric and satin damask. In contrast, DTY 150D/144F prices were chaotic, with widening gaps between manufacturers' quotes, reflecting inventory pressure and intensifying competition for this specification.
The POY market showed weakness. Demand from texturing mills was low, and POY demand for parallel winding was also tepid, suggesting that profit margins or operating rates in the texturing segment are under pressure.
Yarn Market: Partial Recovery in Cotton Yarn, Rayon Yarn Awaits Direction
In the yarn sector, overall cotton yarn prices were stable, but demand for 21s and J32s air-jet varieties saw a slight uptick, driven by orders for air-jet nylon-cotton fabric. Other cotton yarn varieties traded quietly, indicating that end-use demand remains concentrated on specific specifications.
Polyester-cotton yarn prices were stable, while polyester-viscose yarn transactions were weak, lacking directional momentum. Pure polyester yarn prices adjusted steadily, with the 45s variety significantly outperforming others in sales, reflecting downstream preference for fine-denier polyester yarn. The center price for polyester staple fiber 1.56*38mm remained at 7,650 RMB/ton, with limited short-term fluctuation, though the market expects pure polyester yarn prices to face adjustment pressure ahead.
Rayon yarn prices were stable, with the 30s variety maintaining activity due to demand for diamond cotton fabric. Other specifications traded in small volumes. The center price for viscose staple fiber stood at 14,200 RMB/ton, with prices consolidating. Industry judgment suggests that if upstream raw material prices remain at current levels, rayon yarn may see moderate adjustments in the near term.
Market Outlook: Short-Term Volatility, Medium-Term Depends on Raw Materials
The core contradiction in the Shengze-Jiaxing market is that downstream weaving and texturing mills generally maintain low inventories and adopt a hand-to-mouth procurement strategy, lacking willingness to absorb price increases. External disruptions like the typhoon further amplify this wait-and-see sentiment. In the short term, polyester filament yarn prices will remain volatile, with some high-inventory varieties facing possible downward adjustments.
The medium-term trajectory depends on fluctuations in upstream raw materials such as PTA and MEG. Any significant change in feedstock costs would directly break the current price equilibrium. For buyers, the current divergent market presents both risks and opportunities: actively-traded varieties have limited upside potential, while weaker varieties may offer restocking opportunities.