卓创资讯：Polyester bottle chip supply supports the bottom, market enters pre-holiday high-level stalemate

This week’s polyester bottle chip market shows a narrow consolidation pattern driven mainly by costs, with supply support and weak demand facing off. The average price in East China closed at 6,282 yuan/ton, down 2% from the previous week. On the cost side, although crude oil prices rose due to geopolitical factors, PTA remained relatively stable due to declining downstream operating rates and inventory buildup, with limited pass-through to bottle chips. Supply remains tight in spot markets, serving as a key support for prices. Demand only slightly increased when prices retreated, prompting sporadic restocking of rigid needs; overall, market activity remains dull. Looking ahead to next week, the market is expected to enter a stalemate before the holiday, with costs and supply-demand both weak. Cost uncertainties are increasing, with the Iran-U.S. negotiations likely to cause wide fluctuations in crude oil prices. PTA faces a stalemate between declining costs and demand, with prices expected to stabilize. Supply remains tightly balanced; planned maintenance in East China will prolong the tight spot situation, providing a price floor. However, demand will sharply contract as the Spring Festival approaches, with downstream restocking completed and factories gradually shutting down, leading to near stagnation in trading activity. Overall, prices are expected to hover in the high range of 6,150–6,350 yuan/ton, with actual transactions remaining light. (Zhuochuang Information)