The nylon filament market in Shengze and Jiaxing during late June to early July is exhibiting a complex pattern driven by cost push, demand pull, and product divergence. On the raw material side, caprolactam prices first broke through the 10,950 yuan/ton mark, with nylon 6 chips following suit to 11,400-11,500 yuan/ton, both showing slight upticks from the previous week. This directly transmitted to downstream nylon filaments, especially FDY series, where prices adjusted steadily but with clear differences in popularity among specifications.
Product Divergence: Bestsellers vs. Laggards
15D/34F nylon DTY continued to sell well, driven by stable demand in lightweight sportswear fabrics and linings, making it a hard currency in the market. In contrast, 30D/1F bright nylon trilobal yarn saw low volumes, indicating that market acceptance for differentiated varieties still needs cultivation. 160D nylon air-textured yarn maintained moderate sales, primarily serving outdoor functional fabrics.
Notably, demand for 70D/24F nylon-6 FDY was generally weak, with prices stable around 13,800 yuan/ton. This is due to sluggish orders for nylon-polyester blended fabrics downstream, where mills are mainly digesting existing stocks. Meanwhile, 40D/24F full matte FDY showed cyclical growth, driven by orders for water-jet matte high-density nylon-spun fabric, leading to a noticeable increase in procurement.
Substitution Effects and Price Dynamics
The 70D/24F nylon-6 FDY full matte variety performed modestly, with prices in the 15,300-15,500 yuan/ton range. Polyester FDY full matte has created a clear substitution impact, especially in the production of full matte polyester taffeta, where polyester yarns have captured market share due to lower prices. If this substitution effect continues to expand, it could further compress the market space for nylon full matte products.
Procurement of 20D/1F and 30D/1F semi-dull nylon monofilament picked up, with prices largely unchanged, reflecting the rigid demand for ultra-fine denier specifications in high-end apparel and home textiles. Nylon-66 DTY, due to its narrow application scope, has recently fallen into a situation of having prices but no buyers, with both sides adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
Upstream Cost Oscillation and Adjustment Expectations
Total demand for nylon blended fabrics this year has expanded compared to the same period last year. While orders for nylon filament blended fabrics are still being placed, downstream mills are primarily digesting earlier stockpiles, making new procurement cautious. The upward oscillation of upstream raw material prices is putting cost pressure on nylon filament mills and limiting their room for concessions.
A moderate adjustment in the nylon filament market is expected next week. On one hand, raw material cost support strengthens mills' willingness to hold prices; on the other hand, terminal demand has not yet fully recovered, and the supply-demand tug-of-war will dominate short-term price trends. For buyers, the key is to monitor the pace of cost pass-through and the sustainability of terminal orders.