Nylon FDY Prices Hit Mid-Low Levels, Squeezing Profit Margins

On June 30, 2026, the benchmark price of nylon FDY stood at 16,300 yuan/ton, down 4.12% from the beginning of the year's 17,000 yuan/ton, placing it in the mid-low range of the past year. This data point signals significant implications for procurement strategies and profit distribution across the industrial chain.

Price Range Reveals Market Logic

Over the past year, nylon FDY prices fluctuated between a low of 14,175 yuan/ton and a high of 19,950 yuan/ton, a range of 5,775 yuan/ton. The current price of 16,300 yuan/ton is 3,650 yuan below the peak and 2,125 yuan above the trough, with a median of 17,062.5 yuan. This position indicates that the market is neither in panic selling nor poised for a strong rebound.

The annual average of 15,595.97 yuan/ton is about 704 yuan/ton lower than the current price, suggesting a generally weak price center in the first half of the year. For producers, this means further margin compression—especially if upstream caprolactam prices remain firm, the spinning segment may be near breakeven.

Supply and Demand Pressure

Behind the price drop is a rebalancing of supply and demand. On the supply side, domestic nylon capacity continues to expand, with new plants coming online in 2025-2026, flooding the market and weakening sellers' bargaining power. Meanwhile, downstream demand in weaving and apparel has been weaker than expected, with orders dominated by small lots and short lead times.

• Nylon FDY is mainly used in outdoor sportswear, down jacket fabrics, and luggage—categories hit hard by consumer downgrading and inventory cycles.
• On the export front, destocking in Western markets is slow, and volatile shipping costs make importers cautious, further capping price upside.

This supply-demand dynamic is unlikely to reverse soon, meaning nylon FDY prices will likely oscillate in the current mid-low range until a clear demand inflection or supply cut emerges.

Regional Industry Belt Impact

Nylon clusters in Changle (Fujian) and Shengze (Jiangsu) are feeling the pressure. In Changle, some small-to-medium spinning mills have reduced operating rates to around 70% to control inventory risk. In Shengze, fabric traders report slower movement of nylon-based greige goods, with merchants buying only as needed.

Notably, price spreads between different nylon FDY specifications are widening. Fine-denier yarns (e.g., 20D/24F) used in high-end lightweight fabrics hold up better, while coarse-denier yarns (e.g., 70D/24F) suffer deeper declines due to intense commoditization. This divergence urges buyers to select based on end-use rather than average prices.

Practical Advice

For Buyers - At 16,300 yuan/ton in the mid-low range, consider building safety stocks gradually, but avoid chasing prices; use batch purchasing to average costs. - Monitor caprolactam prices—if they soften, nylon FDY may dip further, so delay large orders. - Prioritize fine-denier or differentiated specifications to avoid quality issues from aggressive bargaining on commodity grades.

For Exporters - Hedge against RMB exchange rate fluctuations that erode export margins; use forward contracts or price adjustment clauses. - European customers are tightening requirements for eco-certifications (e.g., OEKO-TEX); prepare test reports in advance to avoid losing orders. - Use the current low-price window to sign framework agreements with long-term clients, locking in supply prices for the next six months to stabilize supply chain expectations.