During the 34th week of 2026 (August 24-28), textile commodity prices showed a rare divergence: polyester filament series collectively strengthened, with POY rising 2.00% to 8767.50 yuan/ton, DTY and FDY following with gains of 1.76% and 1.70%; meanwhile, acrylonitrile plummeted 4.46% to 11433.33 yuan/ton, and PTA fell 3.67%. This tug-of-war reveals sharply different supply-demand dynamics between the polyester chain and the acrylic chain, signaling that procurement strategies for the second half of the year must adopt a more granular, product-specific approach.
Polyester Chain: Demand Recovery and Cost Squeeze Coexist
The price rise in polyester filament is not an isolated event. Year-on-year, POY, DTY, and FDY are 24.25%, 21.66%, and 21.81% higher than the same period last year, far exceeding the gains of cotton yarn (+5.89%) and viscose staple fiber (+10.43%). This indicates that the rally is not purely cost-push but is supported by genuine demand. Downstream weaving mills maintain high operating rates, with rigid demand for filament, while tight supply in some specifications bolsters mills' pricing power.
However, PTA's 3.67% weekly drop contrasts with the filament rise. PTA is the main raw material for polyester filament; its decline should reduce costs, yet filament prices rose instead, underscoring that margins in the polyester segment are expanding. For polyester plants, this is a rare bright spot this year—lower feedstock costs combined with higher product prices have widened spreads, likely prompting higher operating rates in the coming weeks.
Acrylonitrile: Technical Correction Amid High Year-on-Year Gain
Acrylonitrile fell 4.46% in a single week, the steepest decline among the 17 monitored products, but its year-on-year gain remains +44.12%, the highest of all products. This indicates that after a massive rally, the market is undergoing a high-level correction. Downstream demand from acrylic fiber and ABS resin is weak, and new capacity is coming online, fueling bearish sentiment.
For acrylic yarn producers, the drop in feedstock is a positive, but transmission to yarn prices will take time. This week, viscose yarn and staple fiber rose modestly, while acrylic-related products were not in the monitored list; next week, acrylic yarn prices may follow the decline. Buyers looking to lock in acrylic feedstock may delay large purchases until stabilization signals appear.
Cotton vs. Chemical Fiber: Price Anchoring Under Substitution Effects
Cotton rose a marginal 0.06% to 18263.83 yuan/ton, up 19.12% year-on-year, remaining stable. Cotton yarn 21S and 32S were flat, as was polyester yarn, indicating a stalemate along the cotton spinning chain. Notably, the price gap between polyester filament and cotton has widened to historic highs, prompting some blended-spinning mills to adjust their cotton/polyester mix in favor of polyester.
For spinners, the divergence in raw material costs opens a window for product mix adjustments. The current polyester-cotton spread favors polyester blends, but mills should be wary of a reversal if polyester continues to climb. It is advisable to dynamically calculate cost and order profitability under different blend ratios and flexibly switch product lines.