On July 17, 2026, the textile bulk commodity market showed clear divergence: acrylonitrile and polyester staple fiber edged up, while PTA, polyester POY, and raw silk declined. The overall index dipped 0.01%, but beneath the surface, profit redistribution along the supply chain is underway.
Raw Material Divergence
Acrylonitrile rose 0.35% to 9,600 yuan/ton, up 22.29% year-on-year, driven by tight supply in the acrylonitrile-acrylic fiber chain and resilient downstream demand. In contrast, PTA fell 0.44% to 5,985.91 yuan/ton, despite a 25.68% annual gain, reflecting weakening upstream PX cost support and pressure from polyester plant operating rates.
The divergence between PTA and acrylonitrile signals that chemical fiber raw materials are no longer moving in tandem, entering a phase driven by individual supply-demand dynamics. For buyers, this means cost projections for the entire chemical fiber sector cannot rely on a single feedstock price trend.
Polyester: Staple vs. Filament
Polyester staple fiber rose 0.30% to 7,469.43 yuan/ton, while polyester POY fell 0.23% to 8,150 yuan/ton, and polyester DTY slipped 0.07% to 9,237.50 yuan/ton. This divergence reflects different inventory cycles: staple fiber benefits from stable demand in home textiles and hygiene products, while filament faces destocking pressure from fluctuating weaving mill operating rates.
Polyester FDY held steady at 8,320 yuan/ton, up 18.45% year-on-year, indicating balanced supply-demand. Overall, the narrowing spread between DTY and FDY may prompt weaving mills to adjust their procurement preferences.
Natural Fibers: Cotton Stable, Silk Weak
Cotton (lint) edged down 0.02% to 17,729.33 yuan/ton, up 15.31% year-on-year, remaining high and volatile. Cotton yarn 21S and 32S were flat at 23,333.33 and 24,725 yuan/ton, respectively, with annual gains of 6-7%. The stable cotton-yarn spread suggests squeezed margins for spinners.
Raw silk fell 0.14% to 425,100 yuan/ton, down 10.34% year-on-year, the only variety with both daily and annual declines. This directly reflects weak export demand for silk fabrics. Continued weakness may pressure spring cocoon procurement prices and affect silkworm farmer enthusiasm.
Viscose and Nylon: Waiting for Direction
Viscose staple fiber and spandex prices were flat at 14,200 and 29,666.67 yuan/ton, with annual gains of 9.74% and 22.34%, respectively. Spandex's high annual gain indicates a significant rebound from earlier lows, but recent stagnation suggests downstream buyers are cautious at current levels.
Nylon DTY, FDY, and POY all held steady, with annual gains of 7-12%. The stability reflects balanced caprolactam supply, but sustainability of downstream nylon fabric orders requires monitoring.