On June 29, the raw material markets in Shengze and Jiaxing showed clear structural divergence. Although major polyester plants only offered a one-day price discount, negotiated deals with lower transaction prices have become common, and some factories directly cut list prices. This reflects weak off-season demand clashing with fluctuating upstream costs, forcing suppliers to prioritize sales volume over margins.
Polyester Filament Yarn Divergence: Fine Denier Thrives, Medium Denier Struggles, DTY Network Yarn Rises
Among semi-dull FDY, fine denier varieties were the clear winners. 54D/24F and 75D/36F maintained brisk sales for warp knitting applications, while 100D/72F saw significant volume due to large-scale chiffon fabric production. Fully dull FDY 20D/24F also sold well, driven by faux memory fabric demand. In contrast, semi-dull FDY medium denier grades (e.g., 150D/96F) suffered from weak sales, as downstream water-jet box fabric orders were insufficient and circular knitting mills showed low purchasing enthusiasm, leading to fierce price competition.
Bright FDY fine denier yarns had sluggish overall sales, but fully dull and black varieties performed actively in water-jet weaving, used for fully dull taffeta and faux memory fabrics. This divergence signals a shift in end-market demand toward differentiated and functional products, while standard polyester yarns face growing inventory pressure.
In the DTY segment, 75D/72F network yarn became a procurement hotspot due to its versatility across warp knitting and water-jet weaving. Meanwhile, fine denier multi-filament DTY (75D/144F, 120D/192F, 150D/288F) continued to see high transaction volumes, reflecting sustained demand for soft, cotton-like hand feel. For POY, draw-texturing mills increased just-in-time purchases, but POY for intermingling remained weak, indicating that texturing plants are more willing to stock up than weaving mills.
Yarn Market: Cotton Yarn Steady, Pure Polyester Yarn Under Pressure
The yarn market presented a mixed picture. Cotton yarn 21s and 32s remained the main movers, with 32s primarily used for air-jet luxury crepe fabric, and prices stable. Polyester-cotton blended yarn prices adjusted steadily but volumes did not expand, suggesting a wait-and-see attitude in the blended segment. Polyester-viscose yarn prices were stable, but demand for 65/35 32s/2 rose notably, driven by TR stripe conductive fabric orders.
Pure polyester yarn faced a weak and volatile trend. While 45s sold better than other counts, overall prices were under pressure. Polyester staple fiber prices stabilized, with 1.56*38 cotton-type center quotes around 7,700 yuan/ton, but downstream buying interest was subdued. Rayon yarn 10s and 30s saw moderate trade, while other counts were quiet. Viscose staple fiber center prices held at 14,200 yuan/ton. Industry data indicates that viscose cost support remains, but rayon yarn prices are expected to adjust moderately going forward.
Off-Season Effect and Procurement Strategy: Consolidation Remains the Theme
The fabric market is in a traditional off-season, and weaving mills are adopting a 'buy-to-order' strategy for polyester filament yarn to avoid inventory losses from price fluctuations. Although upstream polyester raw material costs have recently shown a slight uptrend, weak end-order demand prevents cost pass-through. Polyester plants are prioritizing destocking, so short-term polyester filament yarn prices are likely to consolidate in a range.
For the yarn segment, the contrast between weak pure polyester yarn and stable rayon yarn reflects different supply-demand dynamics in the polyester and viscose chains. The rising demand for differentiated products like TR stripe conductive fabric offers structural opportunities for buyers.