Textile raw material markets presented a striking divergence in late August 2026: all three major polyester filament varieties rose over 1.7% in a week, while acrylonitrile plunged 4.46% and PTA fell 3.67%. This bifurcation is not accidental but reflects distinct supply-demand dynamics across the industrial chain, with cascading implications for downstream weaving, dyeing, and apparel export cost expectations.
Signals Behind the Data
According to price monitoring from Shengyi Society, during August 24-28, polyester POY, DTY, and FDY rose 2.00%, 1.76%, and 1.70% respectively, with weekly prices climbing from 8596, 9759.29, and 8820 CNY/ton to 8767.5, 9930.71, and 8970 CNY/ton. Notably, year-on-year gains exceeded 21% for all three, indicating the polyester chain's prosperity is not a short-term spike but a sustained trend.
In stark contrast, acrylonitrile fell 4.46% weekly to 11433.33 CNY/ton from 11966.67 CNY/ton, though still up 44.12% year-on-year; PTA dropped 3.67% to 6213.25 CNY/ton, up 26.54% year-on-year. The rise and fall reflect profit redistribution between upstream and polyester sectors: PTA's weakness actually ceded cost space for polyester filament, partly supporting its price increase.
Supply-Demand Logic Behind Divergence
The collective strength of polyester filament is closely tied to downstream weaving mills' restocking. Late August typically marks the start of autumn/winter fabric orders; loom utilization in major clusters like Shengze and Keqiao has rebounded, driving real demand for POY and DTY. Meanwhile, polyester plants had proactively reduced inventories during earlier low-margin periods, leaving social stocks at medium-low levels, limiting supply-side flexibility and making prices prone to rise.
Acrylonitrile's deep drop is more about supply pressure. In 2026, multiple new domestic acrylonitrile units came online, easing regional supply from tight to loose, while downstream ABS resin and acrylic fiber industries did not raise operating rates correspondingly, causing supply-demand mismatch. PTA's decline is linked to crude oil fluctuations and weaker PX cost support, but its absolute price remains high with a 26.54% year-on-year gain, meaning lower feedstock costs could improve polyester processors' margins.
Practical Impacts on the Chain
For weaving enterprises, rising polyester filament prices mean higher fabric costs, but weaker PTA and polyester staple fiber (down 0.96% weekly) offer some offset. Cotton yarn prices remained flat, and lint cotton inched up 0.06%, keeping the cotton chain relatively stable, providing a window for blended fabric makers to adjust formulas. Spandex stayed flat at 29500 CNY/ton but up 21.65% year-on-year, keeping elastic fabric costs elevated yet not worsening in the short term.
Foreign trade firms should note that raw material divergence may lead to structural adjustments in export quotes: polyester fabric exports may rise due to higher costs, while acrylic products (downstream of acrylonitrile) could gain a cost advantage. Additionally, RMB exchange rate fluctuations and freight changes remain key variables affecting order profitability; locking exchange rates or adopting floating quotes for long-term contracts is advisable.