Polyester filament recorded the largest weekly gain in the textile sector during week 34 of 2026 (August 24-28), with POY, DTY, and FDY rising 2.00%, 1.76%, and 1.70%, respectively, while acrylonitrile fell 4.46% and PTA dropped 3.67%. This mixed performance highlights structural divergence rather than a uniform trend in the textile raw material market.
Market Context
Weekly monitoring data covering 17 commodities showed 10 rising, 3 falling, and 4 flat, with an average change of just 0.03%. Beneath the calm surface, polyester filament led gains, followed by nylon filament, while silk, viscose yarn, and other fibers posted modest increases. In contrast, upstream feedstocks like acrylonitrile and PTA saw notable declines.
Notably, polyester staple fiber (PSF) fell 0.96% while filament rose over 1.7%, a divergence rarely seen within the same chain. The widening price gap between filament and staple may prompt downstream buyers to adjust sourcing strategies.
Industry Impact
The rise in polyester filament prices was not fully driven by cost, as PTA costs declined, but rather by tight supply and firm orders. POY opened the week at RMB 8,596/ton and closed at RMB 8,767.5/ton, up 24.25% year-on-year. Despite lower upstream costs, filament producers maintained price rigidity thanks to strong order books and low inventories.
Acrylonitrile's 4.46% weekly drop, while still up 44.12% year-on-year, suggests a technical correction after excessive gains. As a key feedstock for acrylic fibers and ABS resins, its price movement directly impacts downstream production costs. For factories reliant on acrylonitrile, this decline is a short-term benefit, but rebound risks remain.
PTA fell 3.67% weekly yet remains 26.54% higher year-on-year, influenced by crude oil fluctuations and ample PX supply. As the main polyester feedstock, lower PTA should reduce costs, but filament prices rising against this trend indicates expanding margins for filament producers—a positive signal for them, though it may pressure export quotations.