The price of nylon DTY has hovered around 15,820 RMB/ton for nearly a month, a figure that is becoming a benchmark for the entire chemical fiber supply chain to reassess supply-demand dynamics.
The Deeper Meaning of the Price Signal
At 15,820 RMB/ton, this price sits exactly at the midpoint of the annual range from July 2025 to July 2026. The full-year low of 13,560 RMB/ton and high of 18,960 RMB/ton create a box pattern, with the current price 3,140 RMB/ton below the top and 2,260 RMB/ton above the bottom. This signals neither a buying opportunity nor a panic-selling moment, but a time for all parties to recalibrate expectations.
The annual price range spans 5,400 RMB/ton, yet daily changes have been zero for many consecutive days entering the second half of 2026. This shift from volatility to stability typically indicates the market is seeking a new equilibrium. For weaving mills reliant on nylon DTY, stable raw material prices mean contract pricing and inventory management can return to normal rhythms.
The Cost-Demand Tug-of-War
The key raw materials for nylon DTY are caprolactam and nylon chips. In the first half of 2026, crude oil prices rose on a fluctuating basis, driving cost transmission through the petrochemical chain. However, downstream textile and apparel end-consumption did not strengthen in tandem. China Customs data shows that textile and garment export growth slowed in the January-May 2026 period, while domestic sales also faced consumption tiering pressure. This divergence between cost-push and demand-pull is the root cause of the current narrow price range.
Feedback from industrial clusters in Changle, Fujian, and Yiwu, Zhejiang, shows that operating rates for nylon production lines remain around 70%, with companies adopting a make-to-order procurement strategy to avoid bulk stockpiling. This contrasts sharply with the proactive inventory buildup seen in the same period of 2025. The shift in inventory cycles directly suppresses the price elasticity of nylon DTY.
Impact on Downstream Procurement Rhythm
The annual average price is 15,046 RMB/ton, and the current price of 15,820 RMB/ton is about 5% above that average. This premium is within an acceptable range, but considering the median of 16,260 RMB/ton, the current price is 440 RMB/ton below the median, indicating the market is not overvalued. For buyers, the current price falls into a gray zone of "buyable but not compelling."
- If raw material costs are expected to continue rising, the current price is a relatively safe replenishment window
- If end-demand is expected to weaken further, waiting for lower prices is more prudent
- Key variables are the pace of caprolactam capacity release and crude oil price trends
Operational Reference from the Annual Price Range
The annual range of 13,560-18,960 RMB/ton provides a clear safety boundary for procurement decisions. The current price is 13.6% above the annual low and 16.6% below the annual high. This symmetry itself reflects the market's hesitation at the current level.