In Week 34 of 2026, textile commodity prices showed a rare divergence: the polyester filament chain rose across the board, with POY leading at +2.00%, followed by DTY (+1.76%) and FDY (+1.70%). Meanwhile, feedstocks PTA and acrylonitrile fell sharply by 3.67% and 4.46%, respectively. This opposite movement between finished goods and raw materials signals a redistribution of profits and requires downstream buyers to adjust their pricing strategies.
Polyester Chain Strength: Demand Resilience and Inventory Game
Polyester POY opened the week at 8,596 yuan/ton and closed at 8,767.5 yuan/ton, up 24.25% year-on-year. DTY and FDY also posted YoY gains above 21%. This strength is not isolated; nylon DTY, POY, and FDY rose between 0.29% and 0.97% weekly, with YoY gains ranging from 14% to 21%. The overall firmness of chemical filament reflects sustained high operating rates in downstream weaving and continued rigid demand for raw materials.
Notably, polyester staple fiber fell 0.96% against the trend, contrasting sharply with filament. This suggests that end-demand is not universally strong but structurally favors filament products. Staple fiber is mainly used in spinning, and its weakness may indicate soft demand in home textiles or nonwovens. For buyers, the widening price gap between filament and staple requires more precise cost calculations in yarn formulation.
Feedstock Decline: Supply Ease and Cost Pass-Through
PTA fell 3.67% to 6,213 yuan/ton, though still up 26.54% YoY. Acrylonitrile plunged 4.46% to 11,433 yuan/ton, with YoY growth of 44.12%. The sharp correction in feedstocks contrasts with rising finished goods. PTA's decline likely stems from restarting maintenance units and increased supply expectations, while acrylonitrile is dragged by weak downstream demand from ABS and acrylic fibers.
This combination of rising finished goods and falling raw materials implies significant margin improvement for polyester mills. For POY, PTA accounts for about 70% of raw material costs; a 3.67% drop in PTA with a 2.00% rise in POY could theoretically expand the spread by several hundred yuan per ton. However, sustainability depends on whether feedstock declines transmit to finished goods. If PTA continues to weaken, polyester filament price support may loosen.
Other Varieties: Raw Silk Stands Out, Cotton Stable
Raw silk rose 0.85% weekly to 427,500 yuan/ton, but fell 9.16% YoY, the only significant YoY decline on the list. This relates to increased cocoon supply and flat downstream silk fabric demand. Cotton lint edged up 0.06%, while cotton yarn 21S and 32S were flat, indicating a stalemate in the cotton chain. Viscose staple fiber and rayon yarn rose 0.42% and 0.69%, respectively, with YoY gains between 5% and 10%.
The stability of cotton contrasts with the dynamism of chemical fibers, reflecting different supply-demand fundamentals. Cotton is constrained by reserve policies and import quotas, narrowing price fluctuations, while chemical fibers are more influenced by oil prices and plant operations. For blended mills, the changing price ratio between chemical fibers and cotton may affect next season's product mix decisions.
Implications for Buyers and Exporters
The weekly average change was only 0.03%, masking significant internal divergence. Buyers focusing solely on the composite index may misread market direction. The divergence between filament and feedstocks offers hedging and pricing opportunities. Exporters should be cautious about potential finished-good price corrections due to falling raw materials, especially in long-term contracts; adding price adjustment clauses is advisable.