SunSirs: China PET Bottle Chip Prices Fluctuate Upward Last Week

As of April 17, 2026 (Friday), the PET bottle chip market last week (April 13–17) exhibited a fluctuating upward trend characterized by "lows at the start of the week, a rebound mid-week, and firm prices by the weekend." This trend was primarily driven by strong cost-side support and tight spot supply, though weak downstream demand limited actual transaction volumes.

Last Week's Price Data (According to SunSirs data; East China region, water-bottle grade; mainstream transaction prices)

Start of the Week (Apr 13–14): 8,450–8,550 RMB/ton. Influenced by a slight pullback in oil prices and a "wait-and-see" attitude among downstream buyers, the market underwent a weak consolidation phase.

Mid-Week (Apr 15–16): 8,550–8,700 RMB/ton. Positive market sentiment surrounding PTA plant maintenance shutdowns intensified; rising costs prompted manufacturers to hold firm on prices, leading to a gradual upward shift in quotations.

End of the Week (Apr 17): 8,600–8,750 RMB/ton. Spot supplies tightened, and quoted prices remained firm; the weekly average price stood at approximately 8,580 RMB/ton.

Analysis of Core Driving Factors

Cost Side: Primary Driver of the Uptrend (Strong Support)

Crude Oil: The geopolitical situation in the Middle East remained volatile, causing Brent crude prices to fluctuate sharply within the high range of $110–$120 per barrel, maintaining an overall high price center.

PTA: Major manufacturers underwent concentrated maintenance shutdowns, creating strong expectations of tightening supply; this drove PTA prices higher, directly increasing the production costs for PET bottle chips.

Supply Side: Tight Spot Availability (Secondary Support)

The industry operating rate stood at approximately 72.95%; with some production units still undergoing maintenance, the volume of circulating spot inventory in the market remained limited.

Manufacturers' inventories remained at low levels (averaging approximately 10.28 days' worth of stock), resulting in a strong reluctance to sell at lower prices and a firm resolve to hold up quotations.

Demand Side: Weak and Sluggish (Primary Downward Pressure)

Downstream sectors—such as beverage bottling and sheet extrusion—showed low tolerance for the high price levels; purchasing activity was largely limited to small orders driven by immediate, essential needs (buying on a "just-in-time" basis).

Although the market is technically in its peak season, the magnitude of the cost increases met with resistance from downstream buyers, resulting in generally sluggish overall transaction volumes. Outlook for Next Week (Starting April 20)

Price Range: Expected to fluctuate within the upper end of the 8,500–9,300 RMB/ton range.

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