The price of polyester staple fiber has fluctuated by over 2,000 yuan per ton within a year, yet the current benchmark price of 7,532.75 yuan/ton sits near the annual median of 7,346.6 yuan, a position that sends a more significant signal to the industry chain than any single day's rise or fall.
Price Range and Market Positioning
According to China Customs and industry public data, from July 28, 2025, to July 28, 2026, the price of polyester staple fiber hit a low of 6,267.17 yuan/ton and a high of 8,426.02 yuan/ton, resulting in a range of 2,158.85 yuan. The current price is 1,265.58 yuan above the year's low but still 893.27 yuan below the peak, firmly placing it in a 'mid-range volatility' zone.
Notably, the price on July 28 dropped 1.70% from the previous day but remained 1.54% higher than the beginning of the month at 7,418.65 yuan/ton. This pattern of 'daily decline but monthly rise' indicates that the market has not formed a clear trend but is oscillating between cost support and weak demand.
The annual average price of 7,019.32 yuan/ton is about 513 yuan below the current level, suggesting that prices have been lower for most of the past year. For producers, the current price still offers a window for profit recovery; for buyers, it means the risks of chasing highs and inventory costs need to be reassessed.
Industrial Cluster Transmission and Upstream-Downstream Dynamics
Operating rates in chemical fiber clusters such as Shengze, Keqiao, and Changle are highly correlated with polyester staple fiber price trends. When prices are in the mid-range, downstream weaving mills typically adopt a 'procure-as-needed, keep low inventory' strategy to avoid locking in high raw material costs.
This mid-range price level puts pressure on upstream PTA and MEG suppliers: if raw materials remain high, staple fiber processing margins will be squeezed; if raw materials decline, staple fiber prices may move closer to the annual average. This transmission mechanism determines profit distribution across the chemical fiber chain.
From a foreign trade perspective, import prices in Southeast Asian and South Asian markets often reference China's benchmark. The current level of 7,532 yuan/ton is about 10% higher than last year's level of around 6,800 yuan, potentially weakening China's price competitiveness in export markets, though quality premiums and technical services still provide differentiation.