Shenwan Hongyuan Securities·2026-02-09 07:46Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive outlook on the polyester filament industry, indicating a "Buy" recommendation for quality companies in this sector [5][14]. Core Insights - The cost support for polyester filament raw materials remains solid, with expectations for a post-holiday inventory replenishment trend. The industry is currently in a seasonal lull before the Spring Festival, but proactive supply adjustments are laying the groundwork for recovery after the holiday [5][6]. - As of February 6, 2026, the operating rate for downstream textile production has dropped to 25.15%, while the operating rate for polyester filament has decreased to 79.65%. This decline is attributed to seasonal maintenance and self-regulated production cuts, effectively alleviating supply pressure [5][6]. - Inventory levels for polyester filament (POY/FDY/DTY) are at historical lows, with respective days of inventory at 12.7, 15.8, and 19.4 days. Downstream raw material inventory has also fallen to a historical low of 8.74 days, indicating a clear need for replenishment post-holiday [5][7]. - The price spread for polyester filament has significantly improved since late January 2026, with POY/FDY/DTY spreads recovering to 1375, 1575, and 2475 CNY/ton respectively. The PTA cost support remains robust, with no major new PTA facilities expected to come online in 2026, suggesting a tight supply-demand balance that will continue to support filament prices [5][12]. Summary by Sections Upstream Sector - Brent crude oil prices have decreased, with the closing price on February 6, 2026, at 68.05 USD/barrel, down 3.73% from the previous week. The WTI price was 63.55 USD/barrel, down 2.55% [21]. - As of January 30, 2026, U.S. commercial crude oil inventories stood at 420 million barrels, a decrease of 3.455 million barrels from the previous week, marking a 4% decline compared to the past five years [23]. Refining Sector - The comprehensive price spread for major refined products in Singapore increased to 15.63 USD/barrel as of February 6, 2026, reflecting a rise of 6.2 USD/barrel from the previous week [60]. - The price spread for gasoline (RBOB) against WTI crude oil was 18.4 USD/barrel, up 1.8 USD/barrel from the previous week, although still below the historical average of 24.5 USD/barrel [63]. Polyester Sector - The profitability of PTA has increased, while the profitability of polyester filament has decreased. As of February 4, 2026, the average price of PX in Asia was 904.93 USD/ton, down 1.78% week-on-week [5][14]. - The overall performance of the polyester industry is currently average, with expectations for gradual improvement as new production capacities are expected to taper off in the coming years [5][14].