The U.S. International Trade Commission just released its third review publication, No. 5456, to shed light on U.S. imports of polyester staple fiber from China in the past five years. VNPOLYFIBER would like to summarize some of the main points of this review for an interested audience.

Scope of polyester staple fiber from China

The merchandise subject to the order is synthetic staple fibers, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning, of polyesters measuring 3.3 decitex (3 denier, inclusive) or more in diameter. This merchandise is cut to lengths varying from one inch (25 mm) to five inches (127 mm). The subject merchandise may be coated, usually with a silicon or other finish, or not coated. Polyester staple fiber is generally used as stuffing in sleeping bags, mattresses, ski jackets, comforters, cushions, pillows, and furniture.

The following products are excluded from the scope of the order: (1) Polyester staple fiber of less than 3.3 decitex (less than 3 denier) currently classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) at 5503.20.0025 and known to the industry as polyester staple fiber for spinning and generally used in woven and knit applications to produce textile and apparel products; (2) polyester staple fiber of 10 to 18 denier that are cut to lengths of 6 to 8 inches and that are generally used in the manufacture of carpeting; and (3) low-melt polyester staple fiber, defined as a bicomponent fiber with an outer, non-polyester sheath that melts at a significantly lower temperature than its inner polyester core (classified at HTSUS 5503.20.0015).

U.S. tariff treatment

Subject certain PSF is currently imported under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTS”) statistical reporting numbers 5503.20.0045 and 5503.20.0065, which are subject to a general rate of duty of 4.3 percent ad valorem. Decisions on the tariff classification and treatment of imported goods are within the authority of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Effective September 24, 2018, certain PSFs originating in China were subject to an additional 10 percent ad valorem duty under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Effective May 10, 2019, the section 301 duty for certain PSF was increased to 25 percent

Definition of polyester staple fiber by US ITC 

Certain PSF is a manmade fiber that is similar in appearance to cotton or wool fiber when baled. Certain PSF is principally known in the industry as “fiber for fill,” as it is primarily used as polyester fiberfill. Certain PSF is generally used as stuffing in sleeping bags, mattresses, ski jackets, comforters, cushions, pillows, and furniture. Certain PSF has physical characteristics that distinguish it from other polyester staple fibers (such as carpet fiber and fiber for spinning), including the denier of the fiber, the length of the fiber, and in some cases the finish and “crimp” of the fiber. Most synthetic fiber is sold by quantity based on the denier of the fiber.

Because certain PSF is principally used as fiberfill, it is seldom visible in the end-use product. Therefore, the appearance of certain PSFs can be less important than their performance to customers. 23. However, the appearance of certain PSFs directly affects the look and perceived value of many end products, such as mattresses, comforters, cushions, pillows, and furniture with less opaque upholstery.

Certain PSFs used for filling can be produced in many variations for purposes of quality enhancement. For example, the subject fiber may be crimped or conjugated—i.e., in the first stage of conjugate PSF production, two polymers of differing viscosities are forced through a Y-shaped extruder before being blasted with cold air to make a single fiber. The conjugate PSF has a three-dimensional spiral twist and is made from two types of fiber through either a chemical or mechanical process, which is designed to provide greater loft or fill capacity for stuffing purposes. By contrast, non-conjugate fiber undergoes polymer formation before being extruded through a showerhead-like spinneret and solidified with a blast of cold air.

Non-conjugate PSF has a two-dimensional sawtooth crimp and provides somewhat less fill capacity. Certain PSF may also be coated with a finish (usually silicone or oil-based), making the fiber smoother to the touch for certain high-end uses. 24. The fiber’s shape may be hollow or solid, depending on the manufacturer’s preference and the fiber’s end use. 25 Raw materials used to produce certain PSF may also vary. PSF can be made by reacting ethylene glycol with either terephthalic acid or its methyl ester; if so produced, it is termed virgin PSF. Virgin PSF is characterized by the fiber’s pure whiteness. PSF may also be made from recycled polyester, using either consumer waste, such as polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”) bottles, or industrial waste, such as polyester chips or spun tow. Fiber made in this way is known as regenerated or recycled fiber and does not contain virgin fiber. Some producers of the subject fiber also manufacture a blend of virgin and recycled/regenerated materials by introducing recycled/regenerated polyester chips to the virgin production line. Finally, certain PSF may be produced in the form of a low-melt fiber. This is a bi-component fiber with an outer sheath that melts at a significantly lower temperature than its inner polyester core for purposes of thermal bonding and is not included within the scope of this review.

U.S. imports of polyester staple fiber

The table below presents the quantity, value, and unit value of U.S. imports of certain PSF from China as well as the other top sources of U.S. Imports are shown in descending order based on the quantity of 2022 imports.

Certain PSF: U.S. imports, by source and period (Quantity in 1,000 pounds; value in 1,000 dollars; unit value in dollars per pound)

Apparent U.S. consumption and market shares

The table below presents data on U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments, U.S. imports, apparent U.S. consumption, and market shares.

Certain PSF: Apparent U.S. consumption and market shares, by source and period (Quantity in 1,000 pounds; value in 1,000 dollars; shares in %)

China’s Export of Polyester Staple Fiber to the world

The table below presents export data for PSF, a category that includes certain PSF and out-of-scope products, from China (by export destination in descending order of quantity for 2022). The largest destination market in 2022 was Vietnam, accounting for 15.0 percent of all Chinese exports of PSF. The top five export destination markets, Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the United States, collectively accounted for 42.7 percent of all PSF exported from China in 2022.

PSF: Quantity of exports from China, by destination and period (Quantity in 1,000 pounds)

Third countries posed an anti-dumping duty on China’s polyester staple fiber.

According to the domestic interested parties, antidumping duty orders are in effect on imports of PSF from China, including certain PSF within the scope of this review, from Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, and Turkey. In addition, Turkey imposed a global safeguard measure on imports of PSF in September 2021.

PSF: Third-country trade actions on imports of PSF from China

The global export data for polyester staple fiber

The table below presents global export data for PSF, a category that includes certain PSF and out-of-scope products (by source in descending order of quantity for 2022). In 2022, the two largest exporters, China and South Korea, together accounted for almost half (47.9 percent) of global PSF exports.

PSF: Quantity of global exports, by country and period (Quantity in 1,000 pounds)

For more details on this review, please visit US ITC to download its full review.

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