According to the commodity market analysis system of Business Society, the market for polyester staple fiber declined this week (January 12-17). As of January 17, the average market price of domestic polyester staple fiber (1.4D*38mm) was 6,486 yuan per ton, down 0.8% compared to the beginning of the week. With the fading of geopolitical premiums and mounting inventory pressure, international crude oil prices plummeted, ending a five-day consecutive rise. On January 15, the settlement price of the March contract for U.S. WTI crude oil futures was $59.08 per barrel, a decrease of $2.80 or 4.5%. The settlement price of the March contract for Brent crude oil futures was $63.76 per barrel, down $2.76 or 4.1%.

Since the beginning of January, the domestic PTA market has been adjusting weakly. As of January 17, the spot price of PTA in East China was 5,019 yuan per ton, down 2.02% compared to the beginning of the week. Recently, PTA plants have seen both restarts and shutdowns. The 3 million-ton plant of Dushan Energy restarted on January 14, the 3.6 million-ton plant of Yisheng New Materials shut down on January 14, and the 1.25 million-ton plant of Zhuhai BP shut down on January 16. Overall operating rates have declined to around 75%. Raw material support has weakened, and downstream yarn factories have been purchasing based on demand, with most maintaining stable prices for shipments. The overall atmosphere for new orders in the terminal weaving sector remains weak. At the beginning of the month, driven by rising crude oil and cost pressures, some customers with low inventory or plans to stock up on raw materials for after the Chinese New Year made purchases. Overall shipments were moderate, with some yarn factories reporting insufficient orders and planning to gradually halt production and take holidays starting at the end of the month.

Analysts at Business Society believe that the main raw material, PTA, has experienced a narrow decline, leading to a weakening of costs. There are no plans for adjustments to polyester staple fiber plants next week, and operating rates are expected to remain stable. Amid the off-season, textile companies are facing reduced orders and lower enthusiasm for production, resulting in decreased purchases of polyester staple fiber. It is anticipated that the market price of polyester staple fiber may decline in the short term.