China's PSF imports from Southeast Asia and Africa in Jan-Feb, 2025

In the first two months of 2025, uncombed polyester staple fiber exports totaled 232kt, an increase of 38.9% year on year, and imports amounted to 13.7kt, down 23.9% year on year. In Jan, exports reached 133kt, an increase of 37.1% year on year and imports were 7,877 tons, down 29.4% year on year.

HS code 55032000 is synthetic staple fibers, of polyesters, not carded, including virgin PSF and recycled PSF. And the imports from Southeast Asia and Africa are mainly the recycled PSF. The following are the changes in recent years.

In China's PSF imports, the proportion of Southeast Asia climbed up, having reaching 50.2% in 2023, while in 2024, the proportion declined to 45.8%, and in Jan-Feb, 2025, it reached 42%.

Since 2019, PSF import volumes from Southeast Asia have reduced. Though imports in 2023 recovered somewhat, the imports have reduced significantly compared to the peak time, like imports from Thailand and Vietnam, and imports from Indonesia also saw a reduction of 100,000 ton-level.

In the import origins of PSF, Myanmar appeared in 2017, and the overall imports were not much. In 2019, one HC re-PSF production line in Hangzhou was moved to Myanmar, and has not started production till now. In 2020, imports declined sharply. In 2021, operation was unstable affected by the epidemic and Feb 1 coup, and the products mainly sold to Europe and the United States. Imports were only 378 tons in 2021, and since 2022, imports were zero.

Vietnam started to exert force in 2018. Following the solid waste ban, Chinese domestic plants moved to foreign countries gradually. Imports from Vietnam in 2018 soared and reached 30,567 tons in 2021. In 2022, imports shrank obviously, while recovered somewhat in 2023, to be 18,638 tons. In 2024, imports reduced largely to be only 9,052 tons, new low in five years. In Jan-Feb, 2025, imports reached 1,691 tons.

Imports from Thailand were 45kt in 2019, and then reduced gradually. The imports put certain impact on Guangdong market. In 2022-2023, there were still new capacities, including HC re-PSF, hollow PSF and colored yarn. In 2023, imports reached 22,042 tons, and in 2024, imports were 19,754 tons. In Jan-Feb, 2025, imports reached 1,539 tons.

China imported PSF from Cambodia for the first time in 2021, with a quantity of 1,261 tons, 664 tons in 2022, and zero since 2023.

The imports from Southeast Asia were the highest in 2019, at 98,390 tons, then imports shrank gradually, and in 2024, imports totaled 48,391 tons. In Jan-Feb, 2025, imports reached 5,756 tons.

The African market has gradually risen in recent years, especially in 2018-2019, some domestic production lines have also been transferred to Africa. Therefore, the exports to China has increased rapidly from 2019. Imports in 2020 have grown by 28%, mainly from South Africa and Nigeria, but in 2021 imports from South Africa shrank sharply affected by the riots, which caused disruptions of plant operation. Imports from Nigeria in Mar 2021 were good, reaching 2,728 tons. But the imports from Africa were zero in the fourth quarter of 2021. Affected by higher sea freight, freight from Africa to Europe was relatively lower, so sales were mainly to Europe and the United States, and China's imports reduced apparently. In 2022, there were only imports from Uganda of 455 tons, mostly to Europe. Recycled PSF capacities continue to expand in Africa benefited from the edge in sea freight to Europe and no high tax. There are new capacities in Ghana in 2022-2023. Due to the customer shift in 2021, imports of China were limited from 2022. In 2023, imports from Ghana were seen for the first time, and in the first half year of 2024, imports were acceptable, especially from Ghana. But in the second half year, imports were small. In 2024, imports totaled 8,013 tons. In Jan-Feb, 2025, imports reached 0 tons.

In China, virgin PSF and recycled PSF is oversupplied, and producers are active to seek for exports. In 2025, the exports are forecast to rise further and imports may increase slightly. Pay attention to the trade flow change and trade friction.

In Southeast Asia, the new capacity expansion of recycled products is near completion and the continuity in Africa remains to be observed. The new capacity expansion is intensive in India, Iran, Egypt and Indonesia, especially the Indian cotton market. Recycled PSF supply in overseas markets increases, and the competition for conventional recycled products to export is more intense. Chinese domestic sales face higher pressure.