[Price Summary] Recycled PET Market Flat Amid Cost Increase Struggling to Change Weak Demand Pattern

Today's recycled PET market quote:

Source: Longzhong

Spot market: In Jiangyin, the mainstream quotation for imitation virgin-grade on-machine pure white clear flakes is RMB 4,700/ton, and the reference price for 3D-grade cold-washed blue-and-white clear flakes is RMB 4,200/ton. Quotations for recycled PET feedstock across all domestic regions remained flat, with no obvious upward or downward fluctuations.

Cost changes: On this trading day, the spot price of PTA increased by 60 yuan to 5765 yuan/ton, and ethylene glycol rose by 35 yuan to 4232 yuan/ton. The cost of polyester polymerization is equivalent to 6346.80 yuan/ton, up 63.03 yuan from the previous trading day, providing slight support for new materials.

Taking Jiangsu market as the core reference, local imitation-Dacron bottle-grade clear flakes remain stable at RMB 4,700/ton. Mainstream bottle flakes and downstream recycled fiber product quotations in Shandong, Zhejiang, Hebei, Guangdong, and Fujian all remain unchanged from the previous period. Upstream polyester raw materials continue to rise, and the price spread between new and recycled materials has widened slightly, to some extent boosting market participants’ bullish sentiment. With processing margins at washing plants being slim, overall operating rates remain low, and suppliers are showing a reluctance to sell amid limited supply, with weak willingness to offer goods at low prices. However, demand is clearly acting as a drag: downstream recycled fiber enterprises are seeing tepid end-market orders, sluggish product sales, and raw material purchases are limited to just-in-time needs under low inventory levels, with few large-scale stockpiling moves. At present, the market is in a tug-of-war between supply-side hoarding and cautious demand-side wait-and-see sentiment. Overall trading sentiment is subdued, and transaction volume has not shown any significant pickup.

Short-term forecast: Upstream raw material costs continue to provide some support, but there are no signs of a recovery in downstream demand. Recycled PET prices are likely to remain stable within a narrow range. Downstream manufacturers are advised to make small replenishments as needed and maintain low inventory levels.