On August 4, spot quotes for polyester FDY 150D/96F semi-dull melt-spun AA grade showed an unusual price spread: quotes from major Zhejiang producers ranged from RMB 8,510 to 8,860 per ton, a gap of 350 yuan. This signals a shift from uniform price movements to tiered pricing in the chemical fiber industry.
Price Divergence: Corporate Strategies Reflected
Specifically, Rongsheng Petrochemical and Zhejiang Juxing both quoted 8,600 yuan/ton, at the midpoint. Tongkun Group led at 8,860 yuan, 4.1% above the lowest quote. Zhejiang Tiansheng quoted 8,760 yuan, while Zhejiang Jiabao New Fiber offered the lowest at 8,510. The differences stem from raw material procurement timing, operating rates, and product certification systems. Tongkun's premium reflects its consistent quality reputation, while Jiabao's low-price strategy likely aims to destock or capture smaller clients.
For buyers, this spread expands the room for comparison shopping. However, low-priced supplies may compromise on hidden indicators like color fastness and evenness, especially under melt-spinning where raw material batch stability directly affects downstream weaving efficiency.
Industrial Cluster Response: Zhejiang's Pricing Logic
The quotes concentrate in Zhejiang, covering Hangzhou and Shaoxing clusters. Shaoxing, a major chemical fiber base, often sets the tone for East China. Tiansheng's 8,760 quote reflects reliance on high-end orders, while Hangzhou firms like Rongsheng and Tongkun align closer with long-term contract prices for large clients.
From a chain perspective, FDY 150D/96F is mainly used in woven fabrics, faux silk, and some industrial textiles. The current divergence will directly affect cost calculations for grey fabric mills, influencing their fabric quotes. If low-priced supply persists, some weavers may shift suppliers, but high-end fabric orders will remain locked to premium suppliers, creating a dual-track procurement pattern.
Price Outlook and Procurement Strategy
In the short term, FDY quotes will remain range-bound. Crude oil and PTA price fluctuations are key cost drivers, but inventory levels and order backlogs determine price flexibility. For medium-sized weaving mills with monthly purchases above 100 tons, the current spread offers negotiation leverage. Small enterprises should focus on supply stability to avoid stockout risks from chasing low prices.
Notably, these quotes are for AA-grade semi-dull products, the mainstream specification. If major plant maintenance or new capacity emerges, the spread may widen. Industry data for H1 2026 shows new polyester capacity concentrated among top players, squeezing SMEs' pricing power.