In the third week of July 2026, the price movement of bulk textile commodities revealed a critical signal: profit redistribution along the supply chain. Acrylonitrile led the gains with a 5.11% weekly increase, starkly contrasting with the 0.60% and 0.57% declines in cotton yarn 32S and 21S, respectively. This is not an isolated fluctuation but a concentrated manifestation of the structural contradiction between upstream cost pressures and downstream demand weakness.
Chemical Fiber Raw Materials: Cost Push Meets Demand
Acrylonitrile jumped from 9,133 yuan/ton to 9,600 yuan/ton during the week, a year-on-year increase of 22.29%, making it the strongest performer. The logic is straightforward: concentrated maintenance shutdowns of global acrylonitrile units tightened supply, while downstream demand from ABS resin and acrylic fiber remained robust, directly pushing prices up. PTA rose 1.48% to nearly 5,986 yuan/ton, with a year-on-year gain of 25.68%, mainly supported by high international crude oil prices and tight PX supply. Polyester staple fiber, polyester DTY, and nylon POY all rose between 0.69% and 1.30%, indicating that the cost pass-through chain within the chemical fiber sector is relatively smooth.
Notably, polyester yarn prices were flat, while viscose staple fiber, spandex, and rayon yarn showed no movement. This suggests that downstream weaving mills have limited capacity to absorb raw material price increases, with most opting for just-in-time procurement rather than active stockpiling, reflecting strong market wait-and-see sentiment.
Cotton Spinning: Weak Demand Drags Prices
In contrast to the strong performance of chemical fiber raw materials, cotton yarn prices edged down. Cotton yarn 32S fell 0.60% to 24,725 yuan/ton, and cotton yarn 21S dropped 0.57% to 23,333 yuan/ton. Although cotton lint prices inched up 0.13% to 17,729 yuan/ton, the cotton yarn side did not follow, indicating that spinning mills' profit margins are being squeezed. Industry data shows that current operating rates at weaving mills are generally lower than last year, with no significant recovery in end-use garment orders. Slow inventory digestion of cotton yarn has forced mills to lower prices to clear stock.
Raw silk prices continued to decline by 0.14% to 425,100 yuan/ton, with a year-on-year drop of 10.34%. The sericulture industry, after two years of expansion, now faces ample supply, while demand for silk fabrics has been pressured by overseas consumption downgrades. The weakness in raw silk is unlikely to reverse in the short term.
Industry Impact: Profit Redistribution and Procurement Strategy Adjustments
The price structure this week indicates that industry profits are shifting from the cotton processing segment to the chemical fiber raw material segment. The strength of acrylonitrile and PTA means that downstream polyester and acrylic fabric manufacturers will face rising cost pressures. Conversely, the weakness in cotton yarn prices offers a temporary procurement window for downstream weaving and garment companies.
For buyers, a differentiated strategy is necessary: for cotton yarn products, modest price reductions or extended payment terms are feasible, but caution against potential rebound in cotton prices is warranted; for chemical fiber raw materials, attention should be paid to upstream plant maintenance schedules, with forward orders locked in early.