On August 28, the polyester staple fiber (PSF) market revealed a notable signal: for the same cotton-type PSF specification, quotes in Jiangsu and Zhejiang ranged from 7,560 to 7,920 yuan per ton, a spread of 360 yuan, while fiber balls in Henan remained stable at 15,500 yuan per ton, nearly double the price. This divergence is not accidental; it reflects deep differences in regional layout, product structure, and downstream applications across the PSF value chain.
Regional Spreads and Capacity Logic
Jiangsu and Zhejiang are China's main PSF production hubs, hosting brands like Huahong, Huaxicun, and Zhonglei. In this quote, Huahong's 7,560 yuan/ton was at the low end, Huaxicun at 7,920, and Zhonglei at 7,870. All three use melt direct spinning, producing the same 1.56dtex*38mm cotton-type top grade, yet price differences persist. This indicates that in a competitive market, brand premium, logistics costs, and sales strategies influence final quotes.
Henan Kaijie's fiber balls are a differentiated product, with diameters from 30mm to 50mm, uniformly priced at 15,500 yuan/ton. These are mainly used in water treatment and other industrial fields, differing fundamentally from textile-grade cotton-type PSF in performance requirements, production processes, and market size. However, their high price reminds us that PSF in nonwoven and water treatment niches still offers substantial profit margins.
Transmission to Buyers and Mills
For downstream spinning mills, the current price spread in Jiangsu and Zhejiang implies a 3%-5% optimization potential in procurement costs. In spinning, where raw materials account for a large share of production costs, this difference can significantly impact profitability. Experienced procurement teams typically compare multiple suppliers, considering freight and payment terms, rather than simply choosing the lowest quote.
From a mill perspective, integrated melt direct spinning enterprises (like Huahong and Huaxicun) have a cost advantage by eliminating the chip spinning intermediate step. This explains why their quotes are below the industry average. As capacity further consolidates among leading players, small and medium-sized chip spinning enterprises may face shrinking survival space.
Price Outlook and Industry Judgment
In the short term, PSF prices are likely to fluctuate narrowly. On one hand, fluctuations in feedstock PTA and MEG directly transmit to staple fiber; on the other, the recovery pace of downstream textile and apparel orders determines demand support. Regionally, price competition in Jiangsu and Zhejiang will remain intense, while differentiated products in Henan can sustain higher premiums.
For foreign trade companies, export order quotes require more precise raw material cost calculations. Recent RMB exchange rate volatility and shipping cost changes also affect the international competitiveness of PSF finished goods. It is advisable for foreign trade firms to consider locking prices with suppliers or adopting floating pricing mechanisms for long-term contracts to mitigate raw material price fluctuation risks.