The market for polyester-cotton fabrics continues to heat up: environmental protection innovation and consumer demand jointly drive industry upgrading
[Industry Trends] In recent years, with the increasing demands of consumers for the comfort and functionality of clothing, polyester-cotton blended fabrics (T/C fabrics) have become a popular choice in the textile market due to their combination of durability and skin-friendliness. According to the latest industry report, the global polyester-cotton fabric market size increased by 8.5% year-on-year in 2023. It is expected to maintain an average annual growth rate of 6% over the next five years. China, India and other Asian countries have become the main production and consumption bases.
Environmental protection technology has become the focus of the industry
Under the impetus of the "dual carbon" goals, the sustainable development of polyester-cotton fabrics has become a key factor in enterprise competition. Leading domestic textile enterprises such as Lutai Textile and Jiangsu Sunshine Group have successively launched new environmentally friendly fabrics blended with recycled polyester (rPET) and organic cotton. These fabrics are made from recycled plastic bottles to produce recycled polyester fibers, reducing reliance on crude oil resources. In addition, the popularization of waterless dyeing technology has significantly reduced the wastewater discharge in the traditional printing and dyeing process. Some products have obtained international environmental protection certifications (such as the OEKO-TEX® standard), helping brand owners meet the green barrier requirements of the European and American markets.
The demand for functional fabrics has soared
After the epidemic, the demand for multi-functional clothing among consumers has increased significantly. Polyester-cotton fabric is widely used in workwear, school uniforms, outdoor casual wear and other fields due to its easy care, anti-wrinkle and breathable properties. Recently, a well-known sports brand launched a "moisture-absorbing and quick-drying polyester-cotton shirt", which is made of a blend of polyester fibers with irregular cross-sections and long-staple cotton. It combines sweat absorption and quick-drying with the touch of cotton. Its sales exceeded 100,000 pieces in the first month of its launch. Industry experts point out that functional polyester-cotton fabrics with added post-treatment technologies such as antibacterial and UV protection will become a growth point in the future.
Supply Chain Challenges and Responses
Despite the optimistic market outlook, fluctuations in raw material prices remain a pain point for the industry. In 2023, affected by international oil prices, the price of polyester staple fiber rose by 12% year-on-year. Meanwhile, the tight supply of high-quality cotton yarn from Xinjiang cotton also pushed up the cost of blending. Some enterprises stabilize production by vertically integrating the industrial chain (such as investing in polyester production capacity or signing long-term agreements with cotton farmers). In addition, Southeast Asia, leveraging its labor cost advantage, is accelerating the acceptance of mid-to-low-end polyester-cotton orders, while domestic enterprises are transforming towards high value-added products.
Outlook
The China National Textile and Apparel Council predicts that in 2024, the polyester-cotton fabric industry will continue the trend of "high-end and green", and applications in the field of smart wearables (such as conductive polyester-cotton blended sensor fabrics) may become the next technological breakthrough direction. With the rise of domestic brands, polyester-cotton products that combine cost-effectiveness and a sense of technology are expected to further open up the domestic market.