Core Viewpoint - Short fiber futures experienced a rapid increase, reaching a peak of 6180.00 yuan, with a current price of 6168.00 yuan, reflecting a rise of 1.82% [1] Group 1: Supply and Demand Analysis - Supply side: Short fiber production load has risen to approximately 95.4%, indicating a high level. A 250,000-ton short fiber plant in Fujian is undergoing maintenance for two weeks, affecting 1.4D cotton-type short fiber production [1] - Demand side: Sales of direct-spun polyester short fibers show a significant disparity, with an average production and sales rate of 67%. Downstream operations in Jiangsu and Zhejiang show varying load rates: 81% for texturing, 69% for weaving, and 78% for dyeing. Raw material inventory levels at terminal factories are lower by 3-7 days and higher by 15-25 days [1] - Overall, the supply remains at a high level while demand is average, leading to a balanced supply-demand situation, although cost support is weak [1] Group 2: Price Forecast and Influencing Factors - Southwest Futures predicts that short fiber prices will fluctuate in line with cost movements [1] - Ruida Futures anticipates that short fiber prices will follow the volatility of crude oil prices, influenced by the U.S. government's plan to replenish strategic petroleum reserves by 1 million barrels [1] - Current production of polyester short fibers in China stands at 164,900 tons, with an average capacity utilization rate of 87.16%. The average operating rate in the pure polyester yarn industry is 73.35%, showing a slight increase [1] - As of October 16, the inventory levels for polyester short fiber factories in China are 6.11 days, a decrease of 1.47 days from the previous period, while physical inventory is at 13.40 days, down by 1.19 days [1]