Nylon POY Prices Drop Nearly 20% in a Year, Signaling a Supply-Demand Inflection Point in the Chemical Fiber Industry

Nylon POY prices are undergoing a notable cyclical correction. Industry data shows that as of June 30, 2026, the benchmark price stood at 13,650 yuan per ton, down 5.86% from the beginning of the month and nearly 20% from the year-ago peak of 16,950 yuan per ton. Although the current price sits at the mid-range of the annual statistical band, the average price of 12,782 yuan per ton is well below the median of 14,125 yuan per ton, indicating a systemic downward shift in the price center.

Supply-Demand Dynamics Behind Price Volatility

Over the annual statistical period (June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2026), nylon POY prices experienced wide fluctuations from 11,300 yuan per ton to 16,950 yuan per ton. The current level of 13,650 yuan per ton is still 2,350 yuan above the bottom of 11,300 yuan, but 3,300 yuan below the peak. The speed of the decline suggests that the dual pressures of weakening upstream raw material cost support and slowing downstream demand growth are compounding.

For the chemical fiber industry, POY, as an intermediate product of nylon filament, often reflects the vitality of the end textile and apparel market ahead of time. The current price hovering in the mid-range, coupled with a declining average, implies that the market has not found effective support at this level. Buyers should be alert to the risk of prices continuing to test the lower range.

Industrial Park and Supply Chain Transmission Effects

The nylon supply chain is concentrated in traditional textile hubs such as Changle in Fujian, Wujiang in Jiangsu, and Xiaoshan in Zhejiang. During a price downturn, small and medium-sized polymerization and spinning enterprises in these areas will face more severe cash flow pressures. If upstream caprolactam prices also weaken, the profit margins of nylon POY will be further squeezed, forcing some high-cost capacity out of the market.

From a downstream transmission perspective, the decline in nylon POY prices is a cost benefit for weaving mills. However, the recovery in demand from end-use apparel brands and home textile companies remains uncertain, prompting weaving mills to adopt a cautious, hand-to-mouth procurement strategy. This pattern of 'falling costs but no increase in orders' prevents the price decline from fully translating into improved profits for weaving mills.

Industry Trend Analysis

Another key signal from the annual price data is that the minimum price of 11,300 yuan per ton occurred within the statistical period, and the current price is only 2,350 yuan away. If there is no significant improvement in demand over the next three months, nylon POY prices may approach or even break below the previous low. This would force an accelerated industry shakeout, with less efficient and smaller-scale capacity being squeezed out, while vertically integrated companies with raw material advantages gain market share.

For foreign trade companies, fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate and international crude oil prices are two key external variables for nylon POY pricing. The ongoing reshaping of the global textile trade landscape, coupled with order diversion to Southeast Asia and the destocking cycle in Europe and the US, further amplifies price uncertainty.

Practical Recommendations

For Buyers - Maintain a safety stock of 15-20 days, adopting a phased procurement strategy to reduce average cost risk. - Closely monitor upstream caprolactam price trends and operating rates of major producers; consider increasing purchase volumes if operating rates fall below 70%. - Negotiate price fluctuation clauses with suppliers to keep price risk within acceptable limits.

For Foreign Trade Companies - Lock in raw material costs in export quotations to prevent domestic price volatility from eroding order profits; consider using quarterly pricing mechanisms. - Track changes in demand for nylon fabrics in Southeast Asian markets, especially in sportswear and outdoor equipment sectors, which consume significant amounts of nylon POY. - Leverage current low prices to establish long-term relationships with high-quality domestic suppliers, securing a stable supply channel for future market rebounds.