On August 28, most yarn specifications in the Shengze market showed a flat price change of zero. Cotton yarn 32s and J40s moved relatively smoothly, driven by orders for jet-printed cotton-nylon fabric, but overall trading volume did not expand. Polyester yarn 45s could sell at 16,000 yuan/ton, yet it was overshadowed by the weakening polyester staple fiber market. Viscose yarn 20s and 30s each rose 100 yuan/ton, the only notable price changes of the day, but with viscose staple fiber averaging 14,400 yuan/ton and stable, the increase looked more like a probe than a trend reversal.
The Supply-Demand Game Behind Price Stability
This seemingly dull price list actually reveals the real situation in the current yarn market: upstream raw material prices lack direction, and downstream orders are insufficient to spur restocking. Polyester staple fiber (1.56*38mm, cotton type) center price was 8,050 yuan/ton, with a weakening bias, meaning cost support for polyester yarn is loosening. Meanwhile, viscose staple fiber at 14,400 yuan/ton remained stable, leaving viscose yarn price hikes without solid backing—if raw materials don't move, raising yarn prices only squeezes margins.
From a product structure perspective, cotton yarn J40s was quoted at 26,800 yuan/ton and 32s at 23,900 yuan/ton, with demand concentrated in specific uses like jet-printed cotton-nylon fabric. This indicates that end demand is not universally weak but structurally divergent. Buyers are purchasing on a need basis, factories are cautiously scheduling production, and this "weak equilibrium" is likely to persist absent any sudden news.
Signals from the Regional Industrial Belt
As an important textile cluster in China, Shengze's yarn market has long been a barometer for the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region and even the national market. In this quotation, prices from Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Shanghai were highly consistent, reflecting that regional price differences have been flattened by transparent logistics and information. More notably, blended yarns like polyester-cotton and polyester-viscose remained flat across the board, indicating that substitution demand has not shifted despite the weakness in pure polyester yarn—downstream buyers are equally cautious with blended products.
What does this "all-specification silence" mean for small and medium spinners? High raw material inventory costs, combined with stagnant yarn prices, will gradually increase financial pressure. Especially for enterprises focused on pure polyester yarn, if polyester staple fiber continues to weaken, yarn prices may be forced to follow, further compressing profits. The slight uptick in viscose yarn might bring some warmth to the viscose chain, but its sustainability depends on whether viscose staple fiber can truly stabilize and recover.
Practical Recommendations
For Buyers - Purchase on demand and avoid stockpiling: Current yarn prices lack upward momentum, but downside is also limited. Maintain low inventory and adopt a buy-as-needed strategy, closely monitoring raw material movements (polyester staple fiber, viscose staple fiber). - Watch structural opportunities: Cotton yarn 32s and J40s show better demand; consider increasing procurement of these specifications. If viscose yarn 20s and 30s continue to rise, assess cost pass-through capability.
For Factories - Optimize product mix: Given the weakness in pure polyester yarn, consider increasing the proportion of blended or differentiated products to avoid homogeneous competition. - Control raw material inventory: With polyester staple fiber weakening, avoid large stockpiles; viscose staple fiber is stable, but after viscose yarn price adjustments, closely monitor downstream acceptance to prevent inventory buildup.
In the short term, the Shengze yarn market will maintain a "narrow fluctuation" tone. The real breakthrough will come either from a trend change in raw materials or a substantial recovery in demand. Until then, both factories and buyers need more patience and less speculation.