Polyester Filament Price Divergence Intensifies: DTY 150D Quotes Fall Below 10,000 Yuan, Inventory Pressure Transmitted to Production Side in Industrial Clusters
On July 27, 2026, public quotes for polyester DTY 150D/48F semi-dull textured yarn in Zhejiang's Shaoxing and Hangzhou showed an unusual spread: Juxing Chemical Fiber at 9,350 yuan/ton and Rongsheng Petrochemical at 9,550 yuan/ton, a gap of 200 yuan per ton. While this number may not seem dramatic, its implications are far more complex when viewed against current polyester chain inventory levels and downstream order rhythms.
Industrial Logic Behind Price Divergence
A notable price gap for the same specification and grade within the same region typically signals a market shift from seller pricing to buyer negotiation. Juxing, as a mid-sized regional player, prices closer to actual spot market transaction floors, while Rongsheng, an industry leader, retains a brand premium and channel maintenance costs. This divergence essentially reflects different pricing strategies under inventory pressure—smaller mills favor volume over price, while larger players try to maintain margins through price resilience.
From a product parameter perspective, 150D/48F is a mainstream DTY grade widely used in garment linings, home textile fabrics, and some industrial applications. Its price directly impacts downstream weaving mills' raw material cost calculations. The current 9,350 yuan/ton quote has fallen below the psychological threshold of 10,000 yuan, down about 4.6% from the Q1 2026 average of around 9,800 yuan. While not a drastic drop, combined with PTA and MEG feedstock price trends, industry gross margins have been compressed to multi-year lows.
Regional Inventory and Operating Rate Transmission
Shaoxing and Hangzhou are the two most concentrated polyester filament production hubs in Zhejiang, together accounting for over 60% of the province's capacity. The price gap between them also reflects uneven inventory pressure distribution across industrial clusters. Public industry data shows that in June 2026, polyester DTY social inventory days in Jiangsu-Zhejiang region had climbed to 28-32 days, above the normal level of 22-25 days. The main causes are slowing export orders for garments and the home textile market entering its traditional off-season.
Inventory pressure transmission upstream is clear: weaving mills reduce raw material purchases and extend consumption cycles, slowing draw-texturing mill shipments and forcing DTY producers to lower quotes. Juxing's 9,350 yuan/ton quote likely reflects local draw-texturing mill operating rates dropping from 85% in May to around 78% in July. Rongsheng, with longer product lines and more stable customer channels, maintains operating rates around 82%, allowing more restrained price adjustments.
Practical Implications for Downstream Procurement and Foreign Trade
For weaving mills and fabric traders, the current price divergence phase presents both opportunities and risks. The opportunity lies in sourcing below-market-average raw materials through multi-supplier comparison; the risk involves potential quality fluctuations or delivery uncertainties during rapid price declines. From a foreign trade perspective, lower DTY prices offer cost advantages for export-oriented fabric producers, but overseas clients' expectations of continued price drops are strengthening, pressuring long-term order pricing negotiations.