Changxing Textile Market Weekly: Raw Material Price Drop Weighs on Lining and Fabric Markets

The latest market data from Changxing Textile Market sends a clear signal: the persistent weakness in upstream raw materials is accelerating its transmission to the downstream fabric sector. During the last week of June, polyester filament yarn transaction prices fell another 150-200 yuan/ton, with some high-priced varieties seeing even steeper drops. While overall fabric transactions maintained a certain level of activity, quoted prices have noticeably weakened. This round of adjustment is not an isolated event, but a microcosm of the cascading effects within the textile industry chain during the downward cycle of polymer raw material prices.

Raw Material Side: Polyester Filament Under Pressure, Restocking Window Approaches

Polyester filament yarn prices continued to bottom out during June 23-29. Among specific varieties, bright FDY 75D transacted at around 8,600 yuan/ton, still in demand but at a yearly low. DTY 150D/144F (small draw-textured) was priced at about 9,000 yuan/ton, down 100-150 yuan/ton from the previous week. Notably, FDY 61D fell to 8,800-8,900 yuan/ton, with the lowest price touching 8,800 yuan/ton, directly reflecting the drag from weak demand for plain lining fabrics like taffeta and spring-tex.

Polyester staple fiber was not spared either. The 1.56*38mm cotton-type average price stood at around 7,550 yuan/ton, showing a volatile and weak trend. Pure polyester yarn 32s and 45s maintained some sales, but prices declined in tandem, with 45s seeing slightly higher volumes. Under the impact of falling upstream polymer raw material prices, weaving mills have adopted a strong wait-and-see attitude, significantly slowing their procurement pace. Industry data suggests that current raw material prices are approaching the psychological price levels for some companies, and a restocking cycle driven by essential demand may emerge within the next 1-2 weeks.

Fabric Side: Lining Prices Stable but Weak, Differentiated Varieties Show Resilience

Looking at the fabric transaction structure, lining varieties showed clear divergence. Satin brocade continued to sell well, with inventory at low levels, largely due to its widespread use in printed grey fabrics. Cotton velvet satin saw a rebound in sales, with jacquard cotton velvet satin being the first to enter the active sales phase, demonstrating the resilience of differentiated products in a weak market. Silk-like twill also showed signs of recovery in transaction volumes, indicating that some buyers are replenishing stocks at low prices.

However, sales of conventional plain linings such as jet taffeta, light-weight spinning, and semi-dull spring-tex were notably weak. Sales of jet full-dull spring-tex sanded grey fabric were also slow, reflecting that terminal garment orders for these commodity-grade products have yet to recover. In contrast, DTY 75D/72F network yarn saw decent transaction volumes, primarily used in weaving full-dull spring-tex printed sanded grey fabrics—a finished fabric with broad applications and high sales volume. Production of this item has increased, becoming one of the few bright spots in the current market.

Industry Impact: Weaving Mills Under Pressure, Differentiation Becomes Key

As a major distribution hub for lining and fabric products in China, Changxing Textile Market's weekly changes serve as a regional bellwether. The ongoing decline in raw material prices creates dual pressure for weaving mills: on one hand, inventory raw materials face depreciation risk; on the other, finished fabric quotations are forced down, squeezing profit margins. But the flip side is that lower raw material prices offer an opportunity for financially strong companies to stock up at low levels.

For mills reliant on conventional varieties like taffeta and spring-tex, the current market environment is particularly challenging. These products are highly homogeneous and face intense price competition. In contrast, differentiated varieties such as jacquard cotton velvet satin and full-dull spring-tex sanded fabric, which have broader applications and higher added value, can still maintain sales volume in a weak market. This indicates that during industry-wide pressure, adjusting product and customer structures holds more long-term value than simply cutting prices.

Practical Recommendations

For Buyers - Current polyester filament yarn prices are near yearly lows. For essential orders, consider locking in prices in batches to avoid missing the procurement window while waiting for lower levels. - Focus on differentiated specifications like DTY 75D/72F network yarn and DTY 75D/144F, as these varieties are supported by downstream full-dull spring-tex demand and offer relatively stronger price resistance. - For lining varieties with low inventory, such as satin brocade, consider increasing stock levels appropriately to hedge against potential price rebounds.

For Weaving Mills - Reduce the proportion of conventional plain linings like taffeta and spring-tex in production, shifting capacity toward differentiated products such as jacquard, sanded, and printed fabrics. - Take advantage of low raw material prices to moderately replenish inventory, but control positions to avoid overstocking. - Strengthen coordination with downstream dyeing, printing, and garment companies, reducing inventory risk through order forwarding.