In the first three quarters exports of direct-spun polyester staple fiber from China saw an increase of 4.7 per cent year on year. Exports in the first quarter declined year on year, but the picture in the following two quarters turned better, particularly in the third quarter, when the export growth reached as high as 15 per cent over the previous year.

Indonesia emerged the largest destination of China’s direct-spun PSF export this year. Exports to the US also grew fast. From January to September, direct-spun PSF exports from China to Indonesia saw a 75.8 per cent increase year on year while exports to Pakistan saw a reduction of 42.6 per cent. In August and September, the export volume to Indonesia was two times more than that to Pakistan.

Exports to Pakistan went down since an anti-dumping duty has been levied on China’s PSF exports. Exports to Indonesia grew despite the country's anti-dumping policy in mid-2016. Direct-spun PSF demand increased amid fluctuating cotton prices. Also polyester yarn imports of yarn mills in Indonesia have increased. Though polyester staple fiber exports of Pakistan slumped, it may to some extent due to the substitution of polyester yarn imports by local downstream plants.