Market Warms Slightly Amid Persistent Reluctance to Sell Polyester Bottle Flake

Market Overview: On April 17, 2026, the market price of PET bottle-grade chips edged up slightly. In the East China region, the average market price for PET bottle-grade chips stood at RMB 8,700 per ton, up by RMB 50 per ton (a 0.58% increase) from the previous trading day. PET raw materials remained at high levels with volatility, providing continued cost support. Most PET bottle-grade chip producers maintained stable quotations, while a few raised prices by RMB 30–50 per ton. Additionally, holders were reluctant to sell and supported higher prices, slightly lifting the actual market negotiation level. Downstream end-users purchased only to meet immediate demand, and transactions proceeded cautiously.

On the supply side, the overall operating rate of polyester bottle-grade chips is around 76.33%.

In the upstream market: international crude oil prices gave back overnight gains during the day, with cautious market sentiment. The domestic PTA market in East China fluctuated narrowly, trading around RMB 6,590 per ton. The ethylene glycol market saw choppy adjustments, with spot prices in East China hovering near RMB 5,030 per ton.

Outlook: Although there is a short-term expectation of easing tensions in the Middle East, market sentiment has turned notably cautious due to slower-than-expected negotiation progress, with participants awaiting the next round of U.S.-Iran talks. International crude oil prices are expected to trade weakly in a volatile range in the near term, offering only modest cost support for polyester. Downstream demand remains sluggish, resulting in limited supply-demand support; thus, the polyester bottle flake market is likely to fluctuate in line with raw materials in the short term, with prices in East China ranging between RMB 8,500 and RMB 8,800 per metric ton.