On the last trading day of July 2026, bulk textile raw material markets exhibited a cautious tone. According to public industry data, among 17 tracked commodities, only two posted daily gains, seven declined, and the rest remained flat. The average daily change was a mere 0.02%, signaling a lack of clear directional momentum.
Acrylonitrile Leads Gains, Supply Chain Effects Emerge
Acrylonitrile posted the strongest daily gain of 1.61%, reaching 10,533.33 yuan per ton, with a year-on-year surge of 33.62%. This rally is underpinned by persistently high upstream feedstock costs and stable demand from downstream sectors such as ABS resin and carbon fiber. For the textile industry, as a key raw material for acrylic fiber and carbon fiber, rising acrylonitrile prices directly increase production costs for related chemical fiber products. Acrylic yarn producers, in particular, face greater procurement cost pressure in the near term.
Polyester yarn also recorded a modest 0.42% increase to 11,916.67 yuan per ton. Unlike acrylonitrile, this rise was more of a corrective rebound supported by stabilizing PTA prices rather than a demand-driven surge. Notably, polyester filament yarns (POY, FDY, DTY) did not follow suit; DTY even fell 0.26%, indicating limited acceptance of high raw material prices in downstream weaving, a potential sign of stagflation.
Cotton Chain Under Pressure, Raw Silk Decline Draws Attention
Cotton-related products were broadly weak. Cotton fell 0.28% to 17,609.67 yuan per ton, while cotton yarn 21S and 32S dropped 0.14% and 0.20%, respectively. This combination suggests downward price pressure is transmitting from upstream cotton to downstream yarn. The domestic cotton market faces triple headwinds: expectations of new crop arrivals, rising import volumes, and low operating rates among textile mills. For cotton enterprises, falling raw material prices should be positive, but the “buy on uptrend, wait on downtrend” mentality may suppress restocking if terminal orders remain sluggish.
Raw silk dropped 0.35% to 422,700 yuan per ton, with a year-on-year decline of 9.98%, the largest among all tracked commodities. This data reveals the plight of the silk supply chain: weak international demand for high-end silk products, combined with a recovery in cocoon production, has led to persistently loose supply-demand dynamics. Raw silk prices have been in negative year-on-year territory for months, putting significant pressure on farmers and processors in major producing regions like Guangxi and Zhejiang.
Polyester Staple Fiber Leads Decline, Chemical Fiber Divergence Widens
Polyester staple fiber posted the largest daily drop at 0.46%, closing at 7,498.33 yuan per ton. The market faces a dual challenge: a slight dip in feedstock PTA (-0.06%) has weakened cost support, while downstream spinning mills show low procurement appetite, many opting to draw down existing inventories. The divergence between falling staple fiber and rising polyester yarn highlights different supply-demand dynamics within the chemical fiber sector.
Viscose staple fiber, spandex, and rayon yarn all remained flat. Spandex prices are still up 22.34% year-on-year, reflecting sustained demand for stretch fabrics. Nylon series (DTY, FDY, POY) were unchanged, with the market in wait-and-see mode. Overall, the chemical fiber segment displays a pattern of “mixed moves and widening divergence,” requiring buyers to precisely assess the phase-specific trends of each product.