On September 6, the nylon filament market in Shengze and Jiaxing sent a mixed signal: most specifications on the price list continued to rise, while actual transaction volumes contracted. This pattern of rising prices with shrinking volumes, set against a backdrop of high-level raw material consolidation, often indicates that the market is approaching a temporary inflection point. For buyers, the key now is not to chase gains but to understand the layered logic behind the price table.
Price Structure: A Tale of Two Segments
Public quotations show that the current rally is not broad-based but structurally divergent. Fine-denier monofilaments remain firm: 17D/1F semi-dull nylon monofilament first-grade is quoted at 19,300 CNY/ton, 20D/1F semi-dull at 19,100 CNY/ton, and 30D/1F semi-dull at 18,100 CNY/ton. In contrast, coarse-denier multifilaments are more moderate, with 110D/24F semi-dull multifilament first-grade at only 11,800 CNY/ton—a spread of 7,500 CNY/ton.
This spread is not accidental. Fine-denier filaments are mostly used in high-end apparel fabrics, linings, and umbrella cloth, requiring high quality and stability, with limited capacity flexibility and stronger pricing power. Coarse-denier filaments, however, flow into luggage, tents, and other bulk applications, facing more substitution and a clearer price ceiling. Notably, among FDY products, 40D/12F full-dull is quoted at 17,100 CNY/ton (Zhejiang-made), while 40D/24F full-dull is at 17,400 CNY/ton. The premium for dull yarns reflects a growing preference for textured fabrics.
Production-Sales Transmission: A Race Between Costs and Demand
The core driver behind this round of price increases is upstream raw materials—caprolactam and nylon chips—which remain elevated. Raw materials account for over 70% of nylon filament production costs; for every 1,000 CNY/ton fluctuation in raw materials, filament prices typically need to rise by 500–800 CNY/ton to maintain stable processing fees. However, downstream weaving mills' capacity to absorb increases is not unlimited.
The decline in sales is the most direct feedback. When greige fabrics and finished fabrics cannot keep pace, weaving mills quickly shift to a just-in-time purchasing strategy, reducing raw material inventory days, which in turn weakens order visibility for filament producers. Industry data shows that the operating rate of water-jet looms in the Shengze and Jiaxing areas has recently declined slightly, confirming cautious sentiment on the demand side.
Outlook: Moderate Correction, Not a Trend Reversal
Combining signals from raw materials and demand, nylon filament prices are expected to enter a phase of moderate adjustment, but the probability of a deep decline is low. On one hand, raw material prices remain high, providing cost support; on the other hand, the supply-demand structure for differentiated products such as fine-denier and dull yarns remains tight, and producers are reluctant to cut prices.
For buyers, the current strategy is to build positions in batches and lock in medium-to-long-term contracts. For mills, it is crucial to guard against inventory buildup in conventional coarse-denier products and accelerate the shift toward higher value-added offerings. Foreign trade companies should monitor exchange rate fluctuations and overseas order rhythms to avoid passive quotation due to domestic price adjustments.