During the 34th week of 2026 (Aug 24-28), textile commodity prices showed a rare pattern of "strong filament, weak raw materials": polyester POY rose 2.00%, DTY 1.76%, and FDY 1.70%, while acrylonitrile plunged 4.46% and PTA fell 3.67%. This divergence is not accidental but the result of cost pass-through, inventory cycles, and differentiated end-demand. For buyers, this signals a subtle shift in raw material cost structures, requiring a reassessment of purchasing strategies.
Polyester Chain: Demand Resilience Behind Price Rises
Polyester filament varieties led gains, with year-on-year increases exceeding 21%, indicating a notably higher price center. POY moved from 8,596 yuan/ton to 8,767.5 yuan/ton; DTY from 9,759.29 to 9,930.71; FDY from 8,820 to 8,970. Despite the uptick, PTA fell 3.67%, suggesting the filament price rise stems more from supply-demand fundamentals than cost push. This implies stronger purchasing willingness from downstream weavers, possibly driven by early autumn/winter fabric orders or precautionary stockpiling. Notably, polyester staple fiber dropped 0.96%, diverging from filament, reflecting weaker demand in nonwovens and filling materials, while filament's downstream (apparel fabrics) remains active. Inventory levels at filament producers are low, with some specifications oversold, supporting prices. However, if PTA continues to weaken, the widening spread may attract more capacity, slowing future gains.
Raw Materials: The Decline Logic of Acrylonitrile and PTA
Acrylonitrile fell 4.46% in a week, from 11,966.67 to 11,433.33 yuan/ton, yet it is still up 44.12% year-on-year, indicating a correction after excessive gains. PTA dropped 3.67%, with a 26.54% YoY increase, also a post-rally correction. Direct causes may include oil price fluctuations, weaker PX costs, and supply pressure from new capacity. For downstream acrylic and nylon producers, lower raw material costs improve margins, but given acrylonitrile's volatility, excessive stockpiling is unwise. If PTA continues downward, cost support for polyester filament weakens, but current tight supply-demand limits near-term impact. Medium-term, sustained PTA declines could expand filament margins, prompting higher operating rates and increased supply.
Other Varieties: Stable with Structural Opportunities
Nylon series rose modestly: DTY +0.97%, POY +0.86%, FDY +0.29%, with YoY gains of 14%-21%, indicating steady demand. Viscose staple fiber rose 0.42%, and spun rayon yarn 0.69%, with YoY increases of 10.43% and 5.66%, respectively. Raw silk rose 0.85% but fell 9.16% YoY, reflecting ample supply. Cotton lint edged up 0.06%, cotton yarn flat, and spandex flat but up 21.65% YoY, suggesting high prices limit downstream acceptance. This pattern of "mostly stable, few fluctuations" implies no single trend, favoring refined operations. Cotton mills can maintain normal inventories, while chemical fiber producers can adjust product mixes based on price spreads.