At the end of August 2026, raw silk emerged as the standout gainer in the textile raw material market, surging 2.67% in a single day to 427,500 yuan per ton. Meanwhile, PTA and cotton rose 0.59% and 0.51%, respectively, while more than ten other varieties including polyester, nylon, and viscose remained flat. This divergence is not coincidental—it reflects a deep-seated tension between upstream cost support and weak downstream demand across the textile supply chain.
Market Snapshot
According to public data from a commodity monitoring platform, the August 28 price board covered 17 textile raw materials, from silk and cotton to acrylic and various chemical fibers. Only three products posted daily gains, with the average daily change at 0.22%. Notably, raw silk was still down 9.16% year-on-year, while PTA and cotton were up 26.54% and 19.12%, respectively, suggesting the silk rally is a short-term correction rather than a reversal.
On a year-on-year basis, chemical fiber materials showed gains between 5% and 24%, with acrylonitrile leading at 44.12%. Polyester filament yarns (POY, DTY, FDY) each rose over 21%, and spandex and nylon POY increased by 21.65% and 21.37%. These figures indicate that chemical fiber costs have risen substantially over the past year, yet the recent price stability suggests the market is absorbing high prices.
Industry Implications
The sharp rise in raw silk directly impacts silk fabric processors, as silk accounts for over 70% of the cost of real silk fabrics. A 2.67% single-day increase will squeeze weavers' margins. Given that silk is still below last year's level, this uptick may signal tighter cocoon supply rather than demand strength. If the trend continues, silk fabric prices will likely follow, but end-user acceptance remains uncertain.
Moderate gains in PTA and cotton have implications for polyester and cotton supply chains. PTA is a key feedstock for polyester filament, and its price increase raises production costs. However, polyester POY, DTY, and FDY prices were unchanged on the day, indicating that polyester mills are absorbing cost pressures. Similarly, cotton's 0.51% rise did not lift cotton yarn prices, reflecting limited pricing power among spinners and further margin compression.
For buyers, the current market divergence suggests that chemical fiber products are stable in the short term and suitable for on-demand purchasing, while natural fibers like silk and cotton carry upside risks. Exporters face a dilemma: raising prices may lose orders, while holding prices erodes margins. Long-term contracts and price adjustment mechanisms are advisable.