Nylon POY Prices Hit Mid-Low Range, Textile Raw Material Market Faces Directional Choice
On July 13, 2026, the benchmark price of nylon POY settled at 13,500 yuan per ton, down 1.1% from 13,650 yuan at the start of the month. This price level has fallen into the mid-low range of the past year's price spectrum, sitting 2,200 yuan above the annual low of 11,300 yuan but over 20% below the peak of 16,950 yuan.
Price Range and Market Signals
Industry data shows that nylon POY prices followed a typical 'surge and retreat' pattern over the past year. The annual high occurred in Q4 2025 at 16,950 yuan, followed by a sustained decline. The current price of 13,500 yuan lies between the yearly average of 12,820.77 yuan and the median of 14,125 yuan, indicating that the market is neither in extreme distress nor showing clear rebound momentum.
For buyers, this price level offers a 25% discount from the year's peak, significantly easing cost pressures for weaving mills with replenishment needs. However, the 2,200 yuan gap to the bottom suggests further downside risk remains.
Cost Transmission and Demand-Side Pressures
The weakness in nylon POY prices stems from a 'two-way squeeze' between upstream raw materials and downstream demand. On the cost side, key inputs like caprolactam have remained stable recently but failed to support POY prices. The more critical issue lies in demand—orders for nylon filament, fabrics, and end-use apparel have grown sluggishly, prompting weaving mills to adopt a hand-to-mouth procurement strategy without concentrated restocking.
This 'raw material up, finished product flat' spread has compressed profit margins along the chain over recent months. Feedback from nylon clusters in Changle, Fujian, and Zhuji, Zhejiang, shows that SME operating rates hover around 70%, with finished goods inventory pressures rising year-on-year.
Notably, the price showed zero daily change on July 13, a sideways signal that often points to the market seeking a new equilibrium. If downstream orders fail to improve, prices may converge further toward the annual average of 12,800 yuan.
Regional Industrial Clusters and Seasonality
Regionally, major nylon POY consumption is concentrated in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian. The current off-season, with high temperatures prompting some mills to cut production or shift to off-peak schedules, further suppresses POY demand. Export markets have also been lackluster, with competition from Southeast Asia diverting some orders and increasing destocking pressure domestically.
Historically, late August to September marks the 'golden September and silver October' restocking period. If terminal orders pick up as expected, the current mid-low price could form a temporary bottom. However, given global economic uncertainties, this judgment requires caution.