Viscose Staple Fiber (VSF) exhibited a steady price trend across the key global market in the early half of November 2025. This is mainly due to the supply-demand dynamics, availability of final materials and feedstocks across the key markets.
In the United States market, prices for the VSF remained steady with marginal decline in the early half of November 2025. During the period, US VSF prices noted a decline of 0.54% only, attributed to the ample inventory, steady flow and the steady offtake from the downstream market during these periods. Overseas imports, especially from the APAC market, were also smooth at competitive prices, despite slight adjustments in the freight charges, supporting the steady supply conditions across the market. Though the local manufacturing costs were influenced by the fluctuations across the key feedstock prices. Ample pulp flow and 2.87% decline in caustic soda prices, absorbed the upward forces. Demand conditions remained steady for this period though the US market has not recovered from a sharp decline that began in May, a downturn attributed to tariffs and trade barriers.
Following the same trend, European market experienced only 0.43% decline, particularly in the German FOB prices for VSF. German VSF market experiencing the balanced price trend despite the market complexities. key manufacturers maintaining the VSF prices for this period despite the fluctuations in feedstock market and notable downturn in export markets, indication the high VSF supply across the market.
Asian VSF market witnessed a steady price trend with marginal fluctuations, in November H1. In the Chinese market, VSF prices declined by 0.59% only, coupled with the high inventory availability, low production costs and the weak demand dynamics.
Key feedstock pulp prices remained soft during the early month amid high port inventory and destocking sentiments while another key feedstock caustic soda declined by 2.26% during November H1, restricting any upward rise in production costs.
The supply conditions were optimum with industry’s operation rates were around 75% and the inventory levels were ample. Demand conditions were limited from the downstream yarn and textile markets. The market remained in the traditional off-season for the VSF demand, with sluggish transactions in the downstream rayon yarn market. Exports were also firm overall except for few markets including USA due to the influence of tariffs and trade barriers. Market insight revealed that the Chinese textile export to the US declined by approximately 9.0% in the early three quarters of this year.
Despite the weak downstream sentiments and the lack of expected downstream inquiry, market players maintained the operation, anticipating future demand would rise in winter.
