Polyester fibre: Overview
Why fast fashion and sportswear run on polyester
What this tab covers What the chemical is, how big its market is, what it is used for (with shares, volumes, why it wins and what could replace it), and its chain from raw material to end user. Ends with three things to remember.Polyester fibre is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) melt-spun into continuous filament or cut into staple fibre. Each tonne needs about 0.86 t of PTA and 0.33 t of MEG. Output reached 78 Mt in 2024, 59% of all fibre made (Textile Exchange, 2025), and about 12% was recycled, almost all from bottles. It is cheap, strong and blends with cotton and viscose. China makes most of it. India is the second-largest producer, led by Reliance, and its rescinding of quality-control orders in November 2025 reopened cheap imports of PTA, MEG and yarn.
Volume 78 Mt produced (2024), 59% of 132 Mt of all fibres; recycled polyester 9.3 Mt Market value about $80 billion (2024, indicative, basis: 78 Mt x about $1,000-1,100/t; PSF $0.90/kg in December 2024 (Grasim), filament higher) Growth polyester share rose from 57% (2023) to 59% (2024); total fibre output grew 6.5% in 2024 and could reach 169 Mt by 2030 if current growth holds Textile Exchange Materials Market Report 2025 via Apparel Resources and Testex; Grasim earnings presentation Q3 FY2025; value indicativeKey uses
| Use | Share | Annual volume | Why this commodity | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apparel (filament fabrics, sportswear, polyester-cotton and polyester-viscose blends) | 55% | about 43 Mtbasis | Polyester is the cheapest fibre per kg, strong, quick-drying and easy to dye with disperse dyes. Fast fashion and sportswear rely on it. Indian POY sold for Rs 100-120/kg against Rs 240-260/kg for cotton yarn in FY2025 (CRISIL). indicative share; CRISIL Ratings Nov 2025 (prices) | cotton viscose and lyocell nylon |
| Home textiles (curtains, upholstery, bedding, carpets, fibrefill) | 20% | about 16 Mtbasis | Hollow and conjugate staple fibre gives lofty, washable filling; filament fabrics are durable and colourfast for furnishings. indicative share | cotton wool polypropylene carpet fibre |
| Industrial and technical textiles (tyre cord, belts, ropes, geotextiles, car interiors) | 15% | about 12 Mtbasis | High-tenacity polyester yarn is dimensionally stable and cheaper than nylon for tyre reinforcement, conveyor belts, seat belts and airbags. indicative share | nylon 6 and 66 aramids polypropylene |
| Nonwovens (hygiene, wipes, filtration, insulation) | 10% | about 8 Mtbasis | Staple fibre and spunbond PET make wipes, filters and wadding; recycled bottle fibre is widely used here. indicative share | polypropylene spunbond viscose and lyocell (wipes) wood pulp |
From raw material to user
- Crude oil to paraxylene and ethylene PX and ethylene oxide come from refineries and crackers; China makes most PX-to-polyester integrated chains (PTA tile).
- PTA and MEG About 0.86 t PTA and 0.33-0.34 t MEG per t of polymer (PTA tile).
- Polymerisation Continuous esterification and polycondensation at about 280 C make PET melt, fed straight to spinning in integrated plants.
- Spinning Melt is spun to POY, FDY or staple fibre; POY is textured into DTY. Recycled fibre is spun from bottle flakes.
- Weaving, knitting and garments Yarn goes to fabric and garment makers; India's MMF hubs include Surat and Bhiwandi (indicative).
Made from (commodity table)
Oil Crude oilThree things to know
- Polyester was 59% of the world's 132 Mt of fibre in 2024, up two points in a year (Textile Exchange).
- Recycled polyester rose to 9.3 Mt, about 12% of polyester, but less than 1% of all fibre came from recycled textiles (Textile Exchange).
- India rescinded quality-control orders on polyester yarn, PTA and MEG on 12 November 2025; CRISIL expects yarn makers' spreads to fall 10-15%.