The price of nylon FDY (fully drawn yarn) rebounded from a low of 14,175 yuan/ton to a high of 19,950 yuan/ton within a year, before retreating to the current 16,250 yuan/ton. This trajectory essentially mirrors the chemical fiber industry's shift from cost-driven pricing to supply-demand rebalancing.
Price Range and Market Signals
On July 16, the benchmark price of nylon FDY settled at 16,250 yuan/ton, down about 18.6% from the year's high, yet still 14.6% above the annual low. The full-year median of 17,062.5 yuan/ton means the current price sits roughly 4.8% below the midline, in a mid-to-low range. Notably, the disparity between a bottom difference of 2,075 yuan/ton and a top difference of -3,700 yuan/ton suggests greater upward resistance than downside risk.
With zero daily change, the market is in a wait-and-see phase. Upstream caprolactam prices remain stable at 12,000-12,500 yuan/ton, providing no fresh cost shock; downstream weaving mills operate at about 65% capacity, with terminal apparel orders characterized by short runs and urgent needs, lacking sustained demand pull. This stalemate traps nylon FDY prices in a narrow band.
Industry Chain Transmission and Regional Reactions
Mid-to-low price levels mean different things for different chain links. For chip-spinning mills, current prices are near breakeven—with raw material costs accounting for over 75% of the FDY price of 16,250 yuan/ton, processing margins have shrunk to 500-800 yuan/ton. In clusters like Xiaoshan, Zhejiang, and Changle, Fujian, small and medium enterprises have proactively reduced operating rates to avoid inventory buildup.
Conversely, for downstream warp knitting and circular knitting firms, current prices offer a relatively safe procurement window. Compared to the same period in 2025, the year-on-year increase in nylon FDY prices has narrowed to within 5%, far below the 15% increase seen in 2024. This means fabric manufacturers, especially those producing sportswear and outdoor gear fabrics, can moderately increase stock levels.
Three Key Variables for Price Outlook
Three variables will shape nylon FDY prices over the next three months. First, if crude oil breaks $85/barrel, it will directly push up caprolactam costs, driving FDY prices above 17,000 yuan/ton. Second, Q4 is typically peak season for down jacket and ski jacket fabrics; if terminal orders materialize as expected, the current mid-to-low price point will be a prime opportunity for buyers to build inventories. Third, the pace of new capacity release—about 300,000 tons of nylon polymerization capacity is scheduled to come online in 2026—could cap any price rebound if concentrated.