SunSirs: Manufacturers Were More Willing to Ship, and Polyester Filament Was Weaker Last Week (September 8-12)

Price trend

Last week (September 8 to 12, 2025), the polyester filament market showed a generally weak and volatile pattern, failing to usher in the traditional "Golden September" boom. According to the SunSirs commodity market analysis system, as of September 12, mainstream polyester filament mills in Jiangsu and Zhejiang were quoting POY (150D/48F) at 6,650-6,850 RMB/ton, polyester DTY (150D/48F low-stretch) at 8,000-8,150 RMB/ton, and polyester FDY (150D/96F) at 6,950-7,200 RMB/ton.

Analysis review

Insufficient cost support: Despite some positive factors in the crude oil market (e.g., OPEC+'s planned October production increase was lower than expected), PTA supply pressure has increased due to the restart of some units undergoing maintenance. As of September 9, the spot price of PTA was between 4,600 and 4,610 RMB/ton. The price of another raw material, ethylene glycol (MEG), also saw a slight decline. This weakness in the raw material market has prevented strong upward momentum in polyester filament costs.

Weak demand: The recovery in demand during the traditional "golden September and silver October" peak season was weak. While downstream weaving mill operating rates have rebounded (the overall loom operating rate in Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions is approximately 64%), this remains 4.4 percentage points lower than the same period last year. High inventories of grey fabrics have led to a lack of significant growth in new orders, prompting downstream users to adopt a cautious wait-and-see approach, focusing on small, essential orders. This has resulted in persistently weak polyester filament production and sales data, making it difficult to increase production.

Supply Pressure and Inventory: Despite coordinated production cuts by major manufacturers to maintain market share, polyester filament inventories at polyester mills are gradually recovering. To seize market share, some manufacturers are eager to ship more, and some are even negotiating discounts during actual transactions.

Market sentiment remains subdued: With no substantial positive impact on costs, demand, or supply, the market is in a wait-and-see mood. Industry concerns about a prolonged market downturn have intensified.

Market outlook

Polyester filament prices are expected to be volatile and weaker in the short term. It's important to monitor fluctuations in the price of raw material PTA and the production and marketing strategies of polyester filament manufacturers. If the cost side shows significant strengthening or downstream demand improves, it may provide a slight boost to the market.

If you have any inquiries or purchasing needs, please feel free to contact SunSirs with support@sunsirs.com.