Textile Raw Material Price Divergence Intensifies: Acrylonitrile Leads Gains, PTA Under Pressure

The bulk commodity price data for July 17, 2026, sends a critical signal: the textile raw material market is undergoing a significant divergence. Acrylonitrile led with a 0.35% daily gain and a 22.29% year-on-year surge, while PTA fell 0.44% despite a 25.68% YoY increase. This 'fire and ice' scenario fundamentally reflects disconnected supply-demand fundamentals across different segments of the industrial chain.

Upstream Raw Materials: Acrylonitrile vs. PTA Acrylonitrile rose to 9,600 yuan/ton, up over 20% YoY, driven by tight supply and robust downstream demand from ABS resin and acrylic fiber. In contrast, PTA dropped to 5,985.91 yuan/ton, with a 0.44% daily decline signaling short-term pressure, despite high YoY figures. PTA's weakness correlates with crude oil volatility, ample PX supply, and polyester plant operating rate adjustments. This divergence suggests cost-push inflation for acrylonitrile-based products like acrylic and carbon fiber, while the polyester filament chain must absorb upstream margin giveaways.

Polyester Chain: Staple Fiber Stable, Filament Under Pressure Polyester staple fiber rose 0.30% to 7,469.43 yuan/ton, supported by rigid demand for blending in spinning and low inventories. However, all three polyester filament varieties—POY, DTY, FDY—were flat or down, with POY falling 0.23%. This indicates uneven end-demand recovery in weaving: staple fiber benefits from mask, hygiene, and blended fabric demand, while filament is constrained by weak apparel export orders. Polyester yarn prices were flat at 11,866.67 yuan/ton, with only a 1.71% YoY increase, confirming squeezed margins in downstream spinning.

Natural Fibers: Cotton Edges Down, Raw Silk Hits YoY Low Cotton edged down 0.02% to 17,729.33 yuan/ton, up 15.31% YoY, in a high-level consolidation. New crop expectations and reserve sales exert pressure, but cost support remains strong. Raw silk posted the largest YoY decline, dropping to 425,100 yuan/ton, down 10.34%. This persistent weakness reflects shrinking overseas demand for silk garments and home textiles, plus competition from substitutes. Sericulture regions should watch for risks to farmer morale if prices continue to fall.

Viscose & Spandex: Range-Bound, Awaiting Direction Viscose staple fiber and spandex prices were unchanged at 14,200 yuan/ton and 29,666.67 yuan/ton, with YoY gains of 9.74% and 22.34%, respectively. Spandex's high levels stem from sustained demand for sportswear and yoga wear, but recent buyer caution and inventory buildup suggest potential softening. Viscose faces transmission constraints as rayon yarn prices rose only 4.06% YoY; cost pass-through difficulties may lead to later price corrections. Rayon yarn held at 17,925 yuan/ton, indicating profit concentration at the raw material end.

Nylon Series: Quiet Across the Board, but YoY Gains Still Notable Nylon DTY, FDY, and POY prices all held flat, with YoY gains of 9.27%, 7.97%, and 11.48%, respectively. Underlying stability reflects limited fluctuation in caprolactam and chip prices, but downstream orders for outdoor gear and luggage have not exceeded expectations, leading to a 'just-in-time' procurement stalemate. If this consolidation persists, some plants may voluntarily cut output to defend prices.

Practical Recommendations ### For Buyers - For acrylonitrile downstream products, consider increasing safety stocks, as tight supply is unlikely to ease soon, leaving room for further price gains. - For polyester filament (POY, DTY), adopt a phased procurement strategy to lock in costs during the current pullback, but avoid heavy stockpiling; monitor PTA trends closely. - For raw silk, maintain low inventory levels and wait for clearer bottom signals, while tracking recovery in silk terminal export orders.

For Factories - Polyester staple fiber producers can maintain high operating rates, but watch for price spreads with filament varieties to avoid overexpansion leading to imbalance. - Viscose and spandex mills should prioritize destocking and moderate production pace to hedge against potential demand disappointment and price declines. - Nylon enterprises need to strengthen ties with downstream luggage and sportswear brands, securing margins through differentiated products (e.g., functional nylon) to avoid homogenized price wars.