The raw material quotations released on July 7 reveal an unusual industry picture: both made from polyester base, the price gap between water treatment fiber balls and cotton-type polyester staple fiber has widened to 8,500 CNY per ton. The former is quoted at 15,500 CNY/ton, while the latter is only 7,000 CNY/ton. This is not a simple product difference but a strong signal of divergent prosperity between the industrial and textile supply chains.
The Underlying Logic of Price Divergence
The high price of water treatment fiber balls is justified. These products are mainly used in rigid-demand scenarios such as industrial wastewater filtration and circulating water treatment in power plants, and their downstream demand is unaffected by fluctuations in garment consumption. The 15,500 CNY/ton price quoted by suppliers like Henan Kaijie has remained firm since the second quarter of 2026, reflecting stable procurement willingness in the industrial environmental protection sector. These fibers typically require specific diameters (30-50mm) and modification processes, creating higher production barriers and giving sellers stronger pricing power.
In contrast, cotton-type polyester staple fiber, with the Huahong brand quoted at only 7,000 CNY/ton in Wuxi, is approaching the industry's breakeven line. Melt direct spinning technology has ample capacity, but the slowdown in export growth of textile and apparel, combined with insufficient operating rates of domestic weaving enterprises, has led to raw material procurement being limited to small, just-in-time orders. From an industrial chain perspective, polyester staple fiber prices had already fallen about 3% in June, with no sign of bottoming out in early July.
Breaking Points in Upstream-Downstream Transmission
Behind the price divergence lies a breakdown in the transmission mechanism along the chain. Within the textile industry, fluctuations in upstream raw material prices like PTA and MEG should normally pass through polyester staple fiber to yarn and fabric. However, weak end-user orders have made weaving enterprises prefer to reduce inventory rather than stock up, causing the 'buffer' function of intermediate links to fail. In contrast, the downstream of water treatment fiber balls includes power plants, chemical plants, and municipal wastewater treatment plants, which are far less price-sensitive than textile mills and often sign quarterly or annual framework agreements, ensuring high quotation stability.
From a regional industrial cluster perspective, polyester staple fiber quotations are concentrated in Wuxi, Jiangsu, a high-density area for melt direct spinning capacity. Local enterprises face dual pressure from homogeneous competition and rising environmental costs. The 7,000 CNY/ton level has already forced some small and medium-sized factories to cut production. Meanwhile, the production base for fiber balls in Zhengzhou, Henan, benefits from growing investment in environmental infrastructure in central China, leading to full order books.
Short-Term Outlook and Procurement Strategy Adjustments
Looking ahead to the third quarter, polyester staple fiber prices are likely to remain under pressure. Industry public data shows that the polyester operating rate has dropped to around 82% in July, down 5 percentage points from the peak in Q2. If export orders do not improve by August, the 7,000 CNY/ton level may be breached. However, water treatment fiber balls, supported by raw material costs and rigid demand, are unlikely to see their price above 15,000 CNY/ton loosen in the short term.
For buyers, this divergence means that procurement plans can no longer be made based on a single 'polyester' logic. Industrial-grade fibers and textile-grade fibers have completely different pricing mechanisms, supply chain stability, and price elasticity, requiring separate evaluations.