The September 8 textile commodity price monitoring data reveals a clear signal: the nylon family collectively strengthened, while acrylonitrile fell alone. Nylon POY rose 4.37% to 15,525 yuan/ton, FDY and DTY rose 3.18% and 3.06% respectively, with year-on-year gains around 20%. In contrast, acrylonitrile fell 2.31% to 10,583.33 yuan/ton, becoming the day's biggest loser. This divergence is not accidental but the result of upstream cost and downstream demand dynamics.
Event Background
Nylon's strength is directly linked to tight raw material supply. As the main raw material for nylon, caprolactam has seen tight supply recently, pushing up costs. Meanwhile, downstream demand for nylon fabrics in weaving and apparel remains resilient, especially in sportswear and outdoor gear, where nylon's lightweight and durable properties are replacing some polyester share. PTA rose 2.52% on the day, with a year-on-year surge of 39.97%, indicating the polyester chain also faces cost pressure, but polyester filament prices were flat, suggesting incomplete pass-through.
Industry Impact
The divergence between nylon and acrylonitrile directly affects profit distribution and procurement strategies across the chain. Nylon producers benefit from higher prices, but raw material costs rise simultaneously, limiting actual margin improvement. For downstream weaving mills, higher raw material costs raise production expenses; if they cannot pass on costs, margins will be squeezed. The decline in acrylonitrile benefits acrylic fiber producers by lowering input costs, but they must watch for potential oversupply from new capacity.
From year-on-year data, PTA's nearly 40% increase far exceeds other varieties, indicating upstream petrochemical price hikes are transmitting to midstream. Polyester staple fiber rose 27.98% year-on-year but only 0.5% on the day, suggesting market caution at high prices. Cotton prices fell slightly by 0.04%, with a year-on-year rise of 17.81%, and the cotton-chemical spread may influence fiber choices.