Polyester filament yarn prices rallied collectively in the 34th week of 2026, with POY leading at 2.00%, DTY up 1.76%, and FDY up 1.70%. Meanwhile, acrylonitrile plunged 4.46% and PTA fell 3.67%. Both are textile raw materials, yet their trajectories diverged sharply—a reflection of differing supply-demand dynamics and cost-pass-through mechanisms across the industrial chain.
Background
According to data from Shengyishe, during August 24-28, among 17 monitored bulk commodities in the textile sector, 10 rose, 3 fell, and 4 were flat, with an average weekly change of merely 0.03%. Behind this seemingly calm average lies a dramatic divergence: polyester POY, DTY, and FDY topped the gainers, while acrylonitrile, PTA, and polyester staple fiber ranked among the losers. Notably, despite short-term divergence, most products remain significantly higher year-on-year: acrylonitrile up 44.12%, PTA up 26.54%, and polyester POY up 24.25%. This suggests that even with weekly pullbacks, upstream raw material prices remain well above last year, and cost pressure has not truly eased.
Industry Impact
The divergence between polyester filament and PTA is the most noteworthy signal this week. PTA, the main raw material for polyester, fell 3.67%, which should have lowered production costs, yet polyester POY, DTY, and FDY rose against the trend, with gains exceeding 1.7%. This pattern of "raw materials falling, products rising" typically indicates tight supply-demand in the polyester segment, higher acceptance of elevated prices by downstream weaving demand, or producers proactively raising prices to restore margins. Year-on-year, polyester filament is up 21-24%, while PTA is up 26.54%, indicating that cost-side pressure remains despite some loosening, and price hikes are a combined result of cost push and demand recovery.
The sharp drop in acrylonitrile requires an examination of its own supply-demand balance. This week, acrylonitrile fell 4.46%, but it is still 44.12% higher year-on-year, suggesting a correction after excessive earlier gains. Acrylonitrile is mainly used in acrylic fiber and ABS resin, and its price movements are less correlated with textile end-demand, being more influenced by the petrochemical chain. For buyers, the decline may ease cost pressure for downstream products like acrylic fiber, but rebound risks should be monitored.
Viscose and rayon yarn saw moderate gains (0.42% and 0.69%), and raw silk rose 0.85%, indicating relatively stable markets for natural and regenerated cellulose fibers. Raw silk is down 9.16% year-on-year, one of the few declining products, possibly due to increased silkworm supply or weak downstream demand. Cotton yarn prices were flat, while cotton rose slightly by 0.06%, keeping the cotton chain in a narrow range, with year-on-year gains around 19%, indicating sustained cost support.