Nylon DTY prices have fallen from a one-year high of 18,960 CNY/ton to 15,760 CNY/ton, now near the midpoint of the annual range. This level is neither a trough nor a peak but a sensitive inflection point where upstream cost support meets downstream demand pressure.
Price Anchor and Industrial Belt Transmission
The past year's price band for nylon DTY ranged from 13,560 to 18,960 CNY/ton. The current price sits about 3% below the median of 16,260 CNY/ton. Feedback from major industrial clusters in East China (e.g., Xiaoshan, Changle) suggests this level has pushed some small- and medium-sized texturing mills to the edge of breakeven.
The zero daily change and only 0.51% annual decline indicate a 'wait-and-see' trading pattern. Both buyers and sellers are awaiting clearer signals—either further cuts in caprolactam (CPL) feedstock or a surge in downstream fabric orders.
From a cost perspective, CPL prices weakened in Q2 but have recently shown signs of stabilizing. The spread between nylon DTY and CPL is currently within a reasonable range; a CPL rebound would likely push DTY prices higher.
Inventory Cycle and Procurement Rhythm
With the current price at the year's midpoint and a bottom gap of 2,200 CNY/ton, the market has not fully bottomed. However, the pace of price decline has slowed significantly—from an average monthly drop of 1.2% in early 2026 to just 0.51% in the past month.
For weaving mills, this is a 'could go either way' decision point. Waiting for lower prices risks a sudden feedstock hike; buying now risks inventory depreciation if demand remains weak. This dilemma explains the low trading volumes.
Historically, nylon DTY sees a seasonal demand boost in August-September, driven by autumn/winter apparel fabric orders. With about a month left before this window, buyers have limited time to decide.
Structural Demand Divergence
Nylon DTY is primarily used in sportswear, outdoor gear, and some home textiles. In H1 2026, domestic sportswear retail grew about 4.5% year-on-year, but export orders were weak due to overseas inventory destocking.
This 'strong domestic, weak export' structure has created stable total demand but divergent patterns. Domestic buyers are less price-sensitive, prioritizing delivery and quality; export buyers are extremely price-sensitive, often placing bulk orders at price troughs.
The current 15,760 CNY/ton level is below some exporters' psychological threshold (around 16,000 CNY/ton), which may attract export-oriented weaving mills to enter the market.