On August 7, 2026, public quotes from multiple cotton yarn enterprises in Shandong revealed a telling signal: for the same high-grade, first-class knitting yarn, the price gap between 21S and 32S has widened to 1,600-2,200 RMB per ton. While this number is not startling by itself, combined with the price differences among mills for the same specification, the industry's pricing logic is undergoing subtle shifts.
Signals Behind the Quotes
According to the day's data, 21S cotton yarn was quoted between 22,700 and 24,200 RMB/ton, while 32S ranged from 24,300 to 26,400 RMB/ton. In Weifang, for instance, mainstream quotes for 21S were around 23,000 RMB/ton, while 32S hovered near 24,600 RMB/ton. Notably, for the same count, quotes from different mills varied by up to 1,500 RMB, and for 32S, the gap between the highest and lowest reached 2,100 RMB. This dispersion is not merely a quality premium; it reflects differences in raw material inventory, order scheduling, and financial pressure among mills.
Shandong, as a core production area for ring-spun high-grade yarn, carries benchmark significance for the national knitted fabric market. The parameters in these quotes—high-grade, first-class, raw white, knitting use—are highly consistent, indicating a high degree of product standardization, so price differences more accurately mirror individual business strategies. For downstream buyers, this is both an opportunity and a trap: a low price does not necessarily mean cost-effectiveness, nor does a high price guarantee superior quality.
What the Widening Spread Means
The price gap between 21S and 32S is typically linked to raw cotton costs, spinning loss, and processing fees, but in this round of quotes, the gap is noticeably wider than usual. Two possible logics underlie this: first, demand for 32S yarn is relatively robust, giving mills confidence to maintain higher quotes; second, some mills are deliberately widening the spread to steer orders toward more profitable counts. For weavers, if orders permit, switching from 21S to 32S might mean higher fabric quality, but cost pressure will also rise.
More noteworthy is the high consistency of quotes among mills in the same region (e.g., multiple Weifang mills quoted 21S at 23,000 RMB/ton), suggesting a tacit price understanding or cost convergence. Once such a regional price anchor forms, it is difficult to break in the short term. If buyers only inquire with one or two suppliers, they could easily fall into a passive position.
Practical Impact on Procurement and Foreign Trade
At current quote levels, the price spread for 21S (about 1,500 RMB/ton) is sufficient to cover some freight and management costs, making cross-regional procurement feasible. However, foreign trade companies should note that cotton yarn prices are highly sensitive to international cotton price transmission; if overseas cotton prices adjust later, existing quotes may quickly become outdated. It is recommended that buyers compress the inquiry cycle to within one week and lock in forward contracts to hedge risks.