The price of nylon DTY has been hovering around 15,820 CNY/ton for days, reflecting a temporary stalemate rather than market equilibrium. Over the past 12 months, the price has swung from a low of 13,560 CNY/ton to a high of 18,960 CNY/ton before retreating to its current middle-lower position. This indicates a structural shift in profit distribution across the supply chain, with the yarn segment bearing the most direct pressure.
Price Range Narrows, Inventory Signals Raise Caution
According to publicly available industry data, the annual price range for nylon DTY reached 5,400 CNY/ton. The current price of 15,820 CNY/ton is about 5% above the annual average of 15,046 CNY/ton, but remains 440 CNY below the median of 16,260 CNY/ton. More notably, the month-on-month decline is only 0.13%, signaling slowing market liquidity. Historically, such narrow fluctuations often precede inventory accumulation—traders hesitate to stock up while factories are forced to build inventories due to continuous production.
A key detail worth noting is that the current price is 2,260 CNY/ton above the year's low but 3,140 CNY/ton below the year's high. This implies greater downside than upside potential, with market sentiment leaning cautious. Without a surprise demand recovery, nylon DTY prices may test the 15,000 CNY/ton support level in the coming months.
Raw Material Capacity Release Weakens Cost Support
The price transmission mechanism in the nylon chain is reversing. Concentrated new capacity for caprolactam, the key raw material, came online between late 2025 and 2026, putting downward pressure on feedstock prices. Public data shows caprolactam spot prices have fallen over 15% from their peak, directly eroding the cost support for nylon DTY. While lower raw material costs should theoretically improve margins for spinners, downstream weaving mills have been aggressive in price negotiations, squeezing processing profits further.
From a regional perspective, operating rates in nylon industrial clusters such as Changle in Fujian and Wujiang in Jiangsu have diverged. Companies with stable orders and differentiated products maintain full capacity, while more small and medium-sized factories focused on commodity-grade DTY have cut operating rates to around 70%. This structural divergence signals an accelerating industry shakeout, where firms with higher product homogeneity are at a greater disadvantage in price negotiations.
Weak End-User Demand, Lagged Transmission in Weaving
Nylon DTY is primarily used in warp-knitted and weft-knitted fabrics for sportswear, down jackets, and luggage materials. Customs data shows that textile and apparel export growth slowed in the first half of 2026, with nylon fabric export volumes declining slightly year-on-year. The domestic market also lacks catalysts, with brands adopting a "small batch, multiple replenishment" procurement strategy and avoiding advance stockpiling.
This cautious demand directly impacts the raw material procurement pace of weaving mills. The usual concentrated stocking that begins two months before the peak season has not materialized this year. Weaving mills prefer just-in-time purchasing, shifting inventory pressure upstream to the yarn segment. Nylon DTY factories are forced to accept shorter payment terms and lower transaction prices, leading to tightening cash flow across the industry.