The price change list of textile commodities on July 17, 2026, reveals a key signal: divergence among raw materials is intensifying. Acrylonitrile led gains with a 0.35% daily increase, up 22.29% year-on-year, while PTA fell 0.44%, the biggest decliner of the day. The average daily change was only -0.01%, appearing stable, but beneath the surface, different varieties are no longer moving in sync, and the game between upstream and downstream has entered a new phase.
Raw Material Divergence: Acrylonitrile vs. PTA
Acrylonitrile prices continued their strong run, closing at CNY 9,600 per ton on July 17, up CNY 33.33 from the previous day and over 22% higher year-on-year. This rally is mainly supported by supply-side constraints: some acrylonitrile plants entered maintenance season, tightening spot supply, while demand from downstream ABS resin and carbon fiber remained resilient, prompting restocking. In stark contrast, PTA fell 0.44% to CNY 5,985.91 per ton. Although it is still up 25.68% year-on-year, the short-term correction is notable. The decline is linked to easing upstream PX prices and expectations of reduced polyester plant output, as polyester filament yarn prices (POY, DTY) also weakened, confirming insufficient downstream demand to absorb raw material price increases.
Polyester Chain: Staple Fiber Up, Filament Yarn Down
Polyester staple fiber rose 0.30% to CNY 7,469.43 per ton, supported by cotton substitution effects and rigid restocking by some spinners. However, polyester filament yarns generally softened: POY fell 0.23%, DTY fell 0.07%, and FDY was flat. The weakness in filament yarn reflects insufficient orders in the weaving sector, especially as terminal apparel export demand recovers slowly, leading to lower mill operating rates and inventory digestion. This structural divergence—staple fiber up, filament down—means profit compression within the polyester chain: upstream PTA and PX cost increases cannot be passed downstream, squeezing polyester plant margins.
Cotton and Raw Silk: Cotton Edges Down, Raw Silk Accelerates Decline
Cotton edged down 0.02% to CNY 17,729.33 per ton, up 15.31% year-on-year, maintaining high-level volatility. Cotton yarn 21S and 32S prices were flat, suggesting spinners are reluctant to accept high cotton prices, with the market in wait-and-see mode. Notably, raw silk fell 0.14% to CNY 425,100 per ton, down 10.34% year-on-year—the only variety with a negative annual change. The persistent weakness in raw silk is directly linked to recovering cocoon output and sluggish silk export orders. For silk processors, this price decline offers cost-saving opportunities but also signals that end demand has not yet recovered, requiring cautious inventory management.
Nylon and Viscose: Prices Flat but Year-on-Year Gains Signal Cost Pressure
Nylon series (DTY, FDY, POY) and viscose staple fiber, as well as rayon yarn, showed no daily change. However, year-on-year data reveal significant cumulative gains: nylon POY up 11.48%, spandex up 22.34%, and viscose staple fiber up 9.74%. The flat daily prices hide a 'price fear' among downstream buyers: with raw materials already at high levels, buyers prefer hand-to-mouth purchasing to avoid inventory devaluation risks from potential price corrections. Spandex's high annual gain is particularly concerning; as a key raw material for elastic fabrics, its sustained high price is squeezing the profits of downstream garment manufacturers.