The price of Nylon POY is sliding toward the median of its one-year trading band. On June 5, 2026, the benchmark price settled at 14,000 CNY per ton, down 3.45% from the start of the month and over 17% lower year-to-date. For weaving mills and texturing plants accustomed to tracking raw material fluctuations, this signals a need to reassess procurement timing: has the price bottomed out?
Price Structure: Median Does Not Mean Safe
Looking at the annual statistics, the current price of 14,000 CNY/ton sits near the median of 14,125 CNY/ton (range: 11,300 to 16,950 CNY/ton) but remains 10.4% above the 12-month average of 12,680.05 CNY/ton. In other words, while the price has retreated from its peak, it has not entered undervalued territory. The gap to the year's high is -2,950 CNY/ton, while the gap to the year's low is +2,700 CNY/ton, indicating ample room for further declines.
The key variable lies in the cost side. Caprolactam, the main raw material for Nylon POY, has seen its supply loosen as maintenance-restarted plants pushed domestic operating rates above 75%, leading to softer feedstock prices. Meanwhile, inventory days for downstream nylon yarn and grey fabric have climbed for three consecutive weeks, prompting some weaving mills to adopt a hand-to-mouth purchasing strategy. This dual pressure from both upstream and downstream has temporarily shifted pricing power away from Nylon POY producers.
Industry Transmission: Spinning Margins Squeezed, Texturing Waits
For Nylon POY producers, the current price is approaching the full cost line. At 14,000 CNY/ton, the selling price barely covers raw material and processing costs, leaving little to no profit margin. Small and medium-sized spinning mills without integrated caprolactam production have begun to reduce operating rates by 10%-15%.
In contrast, downstream texturing and weaving procurement managers show cautious optimism. "The price is down, but I'm not sure if it's the bottom," said a purchasing manager at a texturing plant in Xiaoshan, Zhejiang. His factory currently maintains only one week of raw material inventory, well below the normal 15-day level. They prefer to wait for the price to break below 13,500 CNY/ton before making bulk purchases.
On the order front, end-demand for nylon fabrics from the apparel market has not shown significant recovery. Spring/summer 2026 fabric orders have been largely delivered, while autumn/winter orders have not yet started in volume, creating a roughly two-month "order vacuum." This explains why downstream buyers remain reluctant to stock up despite lower raw material costs.
Price Outlook: Near-Term Range-Bound, Watch 13,500 Level
Combining supply and demand factors, Nylon POY prices are likely to oscillate within a 13,500-14,500 CNY/ton range during June-July. Downside risks come from further weakness in caprolactam prices and faster-than-expected destocking downstream. Upside potential is capped by the pace of end-order recovery.
One noteworthy marginal change is that grey fabric inventories at some weaving mills have started to edge down from elevated levels, suggesting the destocking cycle may be nearing its end. If this trend continues, the launch of autumn/winter orders around August could provide a floor for Nylon POY prices.