Polyester

Polyester staple fibre markets in China were stable during the Lunar New Year holidays and prices generally rolled over as trade activity slowed down. On the first working day after the Spring Festival, polyester fibre makers maintained stable offers with a sidelined stance. Prices in Shandong and Hebei were stable as downstream converters have yet to resume their normal operation amid a thick holiday atmosphere. The Fujian market was on a stable note as makers maintained their offers. In India, producers’ offers were unchanged, citing firm costs of raw material adversely impacting margins, while demand was modest to support prices. In Pakistan, too, producers’ offers were stable for cost reasons while downstream yarn makers enjoyed good margins.

In China, offers for 1.4D direct-melt PSF were flat this week at 8.80-8.95 Yuan a kg (US$1.31-1.33 a kg) in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, while the same in Fujian and Shandong were at US$1.32-1.34 a kg. Export offers were also steady at US$1.18 a kg FOB China. In Pakistan, 1.4D PSF producers’ offers rolled over after previous week’s hike at PakRs.193-195 a kg (US$1.39-1.40 a kg). In India, PSF offers rolled over for February with 1.2D at INR85.25 a kg (US$1.21 a kg) and 1.4-2D at INR85.50 a kg or US$1.20 a kg.

Nylon

Discussions for nylon-6 staple fibre 1.5D were range bound in China, with high-end for wool-like items those used in core-spinning was traded at a lower end. Suppliers’ were flat, given a slim margin seeing thin liquidity on the first trading day after Lunar New Year holiday. 1.5D prices rolled over at 16.00-17.30 Yuan a kg (US$2.46-2.58 a kg).

Acrylic

Acrylic staple fibre markets in Asia were sluggish as downstream converters continued to remain in holiday atmosphere. In China, reference prices for cotton-type staple fibre, tow and top were range bound at pre-holiday week. Post Spring Festival recess, downstream yarn mills were largely idled, and players awaited the trading activities to restore. The acrylic fibre industry in China had ramped up operating rates to have sufficient materials to cover Chinese New Year and the weeks thereafter demand. Demand was much better than the previous quarter. In India, producers’ offers remained unchanged for February, which were revised down for the month. In Pakistan, offers remained unchanged in Karachi market during the week.

Taiwan origin 3D bright ASF tow offers remained unchanged at US$2.00-2.10 a kg while medium-length and cotton-type acrylic fibre prices in China were steady at 15.55-16.20 Yuan a kg (US$2.32-2.41 a kg). In Pakistan, 1.2D ASF prices rolled over in Karachi market at PakRs.345 a kg (US$2.47 a kg, down US cent 1 due to weak currency). In India, producers’ offers for February were steady at INR153-164.50 a kg (US$2.15-2.31 a kg) following significant cut in the previous week.

Viscose

Viscose staple fibre markets in China were in the grip of thick holiday atmosphere, with hardly any deal or discussion heard during the week. Mainstream offers remained unchanged but on the first working day after the Spring Festival, viscose fibre producers mostly raised offers, seeing that for the medium-end partly from the values before the holidays. However, fresh trades were not seen, as downstream mills were still mostly in vacation. Meanwhile, goods delivery was gradually restoring. Producers were mostly anticipating a bullish start after the Spring Festival, so the focus next week will on downstream resumption. As the market awaits some bullish news like a maintenance plan to emerge, viscose fibre prices may trend stable in the short run. In Pakistan and India, viscose fibre prices generally rolled over as producers maintained stable offers. However, currency strength pegged values down in Pakistan and in India.

In China, producers’ offers on the first working day after the holidays were hiked for medium-end goods to 13.60-13.80 Yuan a kg (US$2.03-2.06 a kg, up US cents 3 from pre-holiday values). In spot, prices notionally rolled over with no business down. 1.5D VSF were at 13.40 Yuan a kg (US$2.00 a kg) and 1.2D to 13.70 Yuan a kg (US$2.04 a kg). In Pakistan, offers for 1.5D VSF were steady at PakRs270-273 a kg (US$1.93-1.96 a kg, down US cent 1 due to weak currency) in Karachi. In India, prices rolled over with 1.2-2.0D VSF prices at INR147-197 a kg (US$2.06-2.76 a kg, down US cent on weak INR).