China’s manmade fiber output during April was up 1.18 per cent on the previous month, to 4.3 million tons, which was also 7.6 per cent higher than the comparable figure of last year.

As a consequence, cumulative production in the first four months of 2016 expanded 5.89 per cent on an annual basis.

Strong growth in April was down to the seasonal impact and increasing stocks at the hands of main producers and traders. However, local analysts believe production could lose steam in May, when quotations for polyester, viscose and nylon are back to the downstream trajectories, prompting the main manufacturers to curtail supply.

Meanwhile China’s fabric production during April remained at the same level of the month prior, 5.9 billion meters, which was up 2.3 per cent against the same month of 2015.

China cotton values surged in April, as the government delayed its auction until May, pushing up cotton yarn quotations and denting the confidence of cotton fabric manufactures amid uncertainties of the industry. And manmade fabric production also lost pace, as inventories put more pressure on plants for cash-flow issues.

Local analysts predicted fabric production in May could be lower, while the high trading season is over.

In addition, total output from January to April rose 2.12 per cent.