China Recycled PET Market Remains Stable as Spring Festival Approaches, Demand Softens and Supply Tightness Prevents Further Price Declines Nationwide 04-02-2026
China recycled PET market shows temporary stability
The China recycled PET market is currently operating in a stable but cautious phase, as prices across major regions remain largely unchanged. With the Spring Festival holiday approaching, downstream demand has weakened, production activity is slowing, and market participants are increasingly conservative in procurement decisions. Despite these pressures, limited circulating supply has helped prevent a sharp downward correction in recycled PET prices. China recycled PET market
Overall, the recycled PET market is characterised by a delicate balance between soft demand and constrained supply, resulting in a short-term consolidation trend rather than significant price volatility.
Current recycled PET prices remain unchanged
As of the latest trading session, mainstream prices for recycled PET bottle flakes in key regions have remained stable. In Jiangyin, pure white clean flakes are trading around 4,550 yuan per tonne, while blue and white clean flakes in imitation Dahua grades are priced at approximately 4,150 yuan per tonne. These levels are largely unchanged from the previous trading day.
Across other major producing regions, price movements have also been flat. Shandong three-dimensional machine pure white flakes are holding at 4,300 yuan per tonne, while Zhejiang cold-washed blue and white flakes remain at 4,150 yuan per tonne. In Hebei, Guangdong, and Fujian, prices for blue and white flakes are similarly stable, reflecting a nationwide pattern of price consolidation. China recycled PET market
This stability suggests that the recycled PET market has entered a wait-and-see phase, with buyers and sellers both reluctant to make aggressive moves ahead of the holiday period.
Upstream raw material costs provide limited support
Upstream petrochemical costs have edged higher, offering some marginal support to recycled PET prices. On the same trading day, spot PTA prices rose to 5,150 yuan per tonne, while ethylene glycol increased to 3,682 yuan per tonne. As a result, the equivalent polymerisation cost climbed to approximately 5,636.72 yuan per tonne, up nearly 64 yuan from the previous session.
The narrow increase in prices for virgin polyester slices has widened the price gap between new materials and recycled products. This has provided limited psychological support to the recycling market. However, the impact remains constrained, as downstream demand for recycled chemical fibre products has not improved materially. China recycled PET market
Downstream demand weakens ahead of Spring Festival
As the Spring Festival approaches, downstream recycled chemical fibre producers are gradually entering holiday mode. Production and sales volumes are declining, and factories are increasingly cautious in raw material procurement, focusing only on rigid demand. Cost control remains a top priority, further dampening buying interest.
In Jiangsu and Zhejiang, prices for downstream products such as 1.4D high-strength low-elongation fibres and 3D to 7D siliconised fibres have remained unchanged. This lack of downstream price movement reflects subdued end-user demand and limited appetite for inventory building. China recycled PET market
The seasonal slowdown has become the dominant factor shaping short-term recycled PET market sentiment.
Bottle supply tightens during off-season
While demand remains weak, supply-side constraints are becoming more evident. The market is currently in the off-season for waste PET bottle collection, making it increasingly difficult for packaging stations and washing plants to secure sufficient raw materials. As a result, operating rates across the recycling chain are gradually declining. China recycled PET market
The weekly capacity utilisation rate of recycled PET has fallen to 41.1 percent, down 1.4 percentage points from the previous period. This decline mirrors trends observed in both wool bottle collection and recycled PET flake production, where reduced availability is limiting output.
The tightening of bottle supply has prevented prices from falling further, even as demand conditions deteriorate.
Profitability remains stable but limited
Despite softer market conditions, recycled PET profitability has remained relatively stable. The average daily profit for recycled PET producers is currently around 200 yuan per tonne, unchanged from the previous week. This stability reflects the parallel movements of raw material costs and finished product prices. China recycled PET market
However, profit expectations remain modest. With limited room for price increases and ongoing cost pressures, producers are reluctant to expand output aggressively. Many washing plants are lowering operating loads to manage risk and preserve margins during the seasonal slowdown.
Polyester slice market provides mixed signals
In the broader polyester slice market, prices have shown a mild upward trend. Semi-dull polyester slices closed at around 5,900 yuan per tonne, while bright slices reached approximately 5,920 yuan per tonne, up 30 yuan and 20 yuan respectively from the previous working day. China recycled PET market
Rising international crude oil prices have pushed up polyester production costs and encouraged some downstream buying. However, overall sentiment remains cautious. Transactions are uneven, and the supply of low-priced material has tightened, contributing to a more selective purchasing environment.
These developments provide indirect support to recycled PET prices but are not strong enough to trigger a meaningful rebound in demand.
Short-term price outlook remains rangebound
Looking ahead, the short-term outlook for the China recycled PET market remains one of consolidation. With the Spring Festival holiday imminent, downstream demand is expected to remain weak, and production activity will likely continue to decline. Buyers are expected to maintain cautious procurement strategies, focusing on immediate needs rather than stockpiling.
At the same time, limited circulating supply of waste bottles and constrained operating rates at washing plants will restrict downside pressure on prices. Under the ongoing supply-demand game, recycled PET bottle flake prices are expected to fluctuate within a narrow range rather than experience sharp movements.
Conclusion: market stability driven by supply-demand balance
In summary, the China recycled PET market is temporarily running steadily. Weak seasonal demand, declining utilisation rates, and cautious downstream behaviour are being offset by tight bottle supply and stable upstream costs. This balance is keeping prices largely unchanged in the short term.
As the holiday period approaches, market participants are likely to remain defensive, with attention focused on post-holiday demand recovery and upstream cost trends. Until clearer signals emerge, stability rather than volatility is expected to define the recycled PET market.
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