Pre-Chinese New Year 2026: PET Bottle Grade Market Update

Chinese producers have reported subdued export order intake since the start of 2026. Much of the current shipment volume stems from contracts secured at lower price levels in late 2025, with fresh overseas business proving increasingly elusive as inquiries taper off ahead of the holiday. The sustained uptick in domestic PET prices since late January has inevitably lifted export offers, prompting notable resistance from international buyers.

The once-clear price advantage over Southeast Asian suppliers has compressed considerably—in some cases vanishing altogether—leading many overseas customers to divert inquiries elsewhere or adopt a wait-and-see stance in hopes of a post-holiday correction.

Across the board, sentiment among international converters, traders and end-users is defined by discipline and patience. Most overseas buyers have already secured sufficient coverage for the early part of the year and see no urgency to engage at peak pricing. The prevailing view is that a window of opportunity may open once Chinese suppliers return from holiday and recalibrate their offers in line with global benchmarks.

For now, China's PET bottle chip sector enters the holiday break with healthy domestic pre-sales and lean inventories—but the export engine is running noticeably cooler. Whether momentum returns post-holiday will depend not on domestic strength, but on whether Chinese suppliers are prepared to realign pricing with a more cautious global market.

Source: CCF Group