In late August, the light textile raw material markets in Shengze and Jiaxing showed subtle shifts: polyester filament prices weakened under pressure from PTA and MEG futures pullbacks, with mainstream polyester mills offering discounts of around 100 yuan per ton in batch transactions. Meanwhile, the yarn market presented a different picture—cotton yarn prices held steady, polyester-cotton blends moved well, and viscose yarn remained stable. This divergence between chemical fiber weakness and yarn stability reflects intensifying negotiations between upstream costs and downstream demand.
Background
From the polyester side, on August 29-30, trading volumes of polyester filament were moderate to low, with chaotic price movements. Mainstream manufacturers reduced prices by about 100 yuan per ton, though most mills maintained apparent stability, offering flexible deals for actual shipments. The direct trigger was the correction in PTA and MEG futures, which weakened cost support. Notably, despite low inventory pressure at polyester plants, volatility in raw materials has fostered a wait-and-see attitude, with buyers generally cautious. Short-term prices may see small downward adjustments.
Product differentiation is a key feature of this market. In POY, draw-texturing mills made small purchases of 50D/72F, 75D/72F, 75D/144F, 100D/192F, and 150D/288F, with POY150D/144F quoted around 9,000 yuan/ton with discounts. Interlaced POY sold poorly. Among FDY, 48D/48F and 63D were favored due to rising demand for lining fabrics like polyester taffeta, with 48D/48F quoted around 10,200 yuan/ton, and price gaps between mills widened. FDY100D sold moderately, while 128D/36F moved well due to high consumption in oxford fabric. Bright FDY fine denier sales declined, but bright FDY30D/24F sold actively for polyester-nylon fabrics. Matched FDY outperformed semi-dull and bright varieties, with 40D/48F in demand for high-density taffeta and casual fabrics. DTY sales slightly exceeded FDY, with prices stable; bright DTY multi-filament flat types were popular, while regular DTY sales were quiet.
The yarn market remained relatively steady. Cotton yarn 32s stayed popular, and J21s also moved, with 32s mainly used for fuguifang fabrics. Polyester-cotton yarn prices were stable, with 80/20 45s selling in large volumes. Some polyester-viscose yarns saw slight price increases, with 65/35 40s moving smoothly. Pure polyester yarn had limited sales except for 45s, with prices stable-to-weak. Polyester staple fiber prices changed little, with 1.56*38 cotton-type center price around 8,050 yuan/ton. Viscose yarn 30s shipped well, prices temporarily stable, and viscose staple fiber center price at around 14,400 yuan/ton.
Industry Impact
What does the polyester chain correction mean for downstream weaving and trading? First, easing costs provide a temporary profit buffer for fabric manufacturers, but cautious procurement may delay restocking, affecting polyester mills' shipment pace. Second, product differentiation suggests not all is weak—FDY fine denier specs remain active due to rigid demand for taffeta and oxford fabrics, reflecting resilience in apparel and luggage end-markets. For buyers, current prices may offer a window for phased purchasing, but downside risks from raw materials must be monitored.
The stability in yarn markets sends another signal: demand for cotton and blended products remains relatively solid, especially polyester-cotton and polyester-viscose blends, indicating continued appetite for cost-effective mixed fabrics. The steadiness of viscose yarn, supported by firm staple fiber prices, suggests a healthy supply-demand balance in the viscose chain. Overall, short-term yarn prices may consolidate, but significant declines are unlikely.