The price of nylon DTY is undergoing a notable correction. As of June 30, 2026, the benchmark price stood at 15,840 yuan per ton, down 4.81% from 16,640 yuan at the beginning of the month. This decline is not an isolated event but a reflection of the dual pressures of capacity expansion and sluggish end-user demand across the chemical fiber supply chain.
Price Range Suggests Supply-Demand Imbalance
From an annual perspective, nylon DTY prices fluctuated sharply between June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, hitting a low of 13,560 yuan per ton and a high of 18,960 yuan. The current price of 15,840 yuan is near the median of 16,260 yuan, but still 3,120 yuan below the peak. This indicates that after falling from the high, the market has failed to stage a meaningful rebound, lacking strong demand support.
Notably, the annual average price was 15,030.11 yuan per ton, meaning the current level is about 5.4% above the average. This suggests that while prices are declining, they have not yet entered absolute bargain territory. For downstream weaving mills, the current price represents a "gray zone" that requires precise judgment—neither a buying opportunity nor a reason to panic-sell.
Industrial Cluster Transmission: Pressure from Raw Material to Grey Fabric
Nylon DTY, a key intermediate in the nylon filament processing chain, directly impacts profit margins in clusters like Xiaoshan (Zhejiang) and Changle (Fujian). In the past two years, continued capacity expansion in upstream caprolactam has weakened cost support, while downstream demand in knitting and warp knitting has slowed markedly, especially as apparel export orders face headwinds from inventory adjustments in Europe and the U.S.
This supply-demand dynamic has squeezed nylon DTY processing margins. Mills face a dilemma: maintaining high operating rates risks inventory buildup, while cutting production increases fixed-cost allocation pressure. Industry data shows that average operating rates in the nylon sector fell from 78% at the start of 2026 to around 72% by mid-year, with some small and medium enterprises forced into intermittent shutdowns.
Implications of a Mid-Range Price for Procurement Strategy
For buyers, what does a price at the annual median mean? Historically, the median zone often indicates a relatively balanced but directionless market. However, given that the annual average is below the current price and the decline has persisted for over six months, there is a possibility of further downside toward the annual average line.
On the other hand, the bottom difference of 2,280 yuan suggests that if demand recovers unexpectedly, prices have considerable upside potential. Yet with global textile and apparel destocking progressing slowly—especially in Europe, where recovery is below expectations—nylon DTY prices are likely to oscillate in a narrow range of 15,000-16,500 yuan per ton in the near term.