Caprolactam has broken through the 11,000 yuan/ton mark, with nylon 6 chips following suit to 11,400-11,500 yuan/ton. The nylon filament market in Shengze and Jiaxing experienced a cost-driven structural adjustment in the final week of June. Compared to the same period last year, total demand for nylon interwoven fabrics has expanded, but the divergence between different varieties is widening. The logic behind price gaps between hot-selling and slow-moving products reveals the true state of the supply chain more than simple price fluctuations.
Cost Side Slightly Up, Downstream Restocking Diverges
During the week of June 29 to July 5, caprolactam prices edged up from 10,950 yuan/ton to 11,000 yuan/ton. Although the increase was less than 1%, it was sufficient to push nylon 6 chip prices up slightly. For weaving mills in Shengze and Jiaxing, this means a marginal increase in raw material procurement costs of about 1.5%. The restocking surge seen at the end of June was largely a preemptive response to this price signal—buyers locked in low-cost inventory to hedge against potential price hikes.
However, restocking behavior was not uniform across varieties. 15D/34F nylon DTY continued to sell briskly, while 30D/1F bright nylon trilobal yarn saw persistently low volumes. This uneven performance directly reflects structural changes in end-use fabric demand: lightweight, high-density nylon spun fabrics are gaining traction, driving demand for fine-denier DTY; trilobal yarn, with its narrow application scope, lacks order support, forcing buyers to adopt a just-in-time procurement approach.
Divergence Within the Full Matte Segment
40D/24F full matte FDY saw the most notable demand recovery this week, with downstream purchases rising cyclically. The driver is orders for matte high-density nylon spun fabric from water-jet looms, primarily used in outdoor apparel and functional jackets. End brands began prepping for autumn/winter at the end of summer, creating a concentrated procurement window.
But the 70D/24F nylon 6-FDY full matte variety performed poorly, with prices stuck at 15,300-15,500 yuan/ton. The reason is straightforward: polyester FDY full matte varieties are substituting for nylon in this specification, particularly in full matte polyester taffeta (polyester spun fabric). Polyester's cost advantage leaves nylon at a disadvantage in price negotiations. This suggests that the competitiveness of nylon full matte products is shifting toward smaller deniers and higher added value, with standard specifications facing pressure from polyester encroachment.
Nylon 66 vs. Monofilament: Two Extremes
Nylon 66 DTY was essentially 'priced but not traded' this week. Its narrow application scope is the root cause: nylon 66 is mainly used in high-end industrial yarns and specialty apparel, with limited demand from civilian weaving in Shengze and Jiaxing. Orders are sporadic and insufficient to sustain consistent volumes. In contrast, procurement of 20D/1F and 30D/1F semi-dull nylon monofilament picked up, with prices stable. Monofilament is commonly used in warp-knitted mesh and shoe materials, and its demand recovery hints at improving orders for non-apparel textile applications.
The contrast between these two varieties underscores that not all sub-segments benefit equally from overall demand expansion. Only those tied to end-consumer trends (outdoor, sports, functionality) or industrial applications can secure substantive order support.
Upstream Volatility Upward, Adjustment Likely Next Week
The core contradiction in the current nylon filament market is that upstream caprolactam and chip prices are trending up, but downstream weaving mills have just completed a restocking round and show little willingness to chase further price increases. From a supply chain transmission perspective, it typically takes 1-2 weeks for raw material cost increases to fully reflect in nylon filament ex-factory prices. Without follow-through from end orders, adjustments will likely be 'moderate' rather than 'drastic.'
Next week, nylon filament prices are expected to adjust structurally: hot-selling varieties (e.g., 15D DTY, 40D full matte FDY) may see slight upticks, while slow-moving ones (e.g., 70D full matte, nylon 66 DTY) may face destocking pressure with price cuts. For buyers, the current moment is better suited for order-based procurement rather than bulk stockpiling.