The nylon FDY market is experiencing a prolonged period of subdued prices. As of July 20, 2026, the benchmark price stood at 16,250 RMB/ton, down a mere 0.31% from the beginning of the month. However, when viewed against the annual landscape, this price has slipped into the middle-to-low range of the past 12 months, falling 3,700 RMB from the year’s high of 19,950 RMB/ton — a decline of 18.5%.
Price Range Narrows, Market Lacks Direction
Annual statistics reveal that nylon FDY prices have fluctuated widely over the past year, ranging from 14,175 RMB/ton to 19,950 RMB/ton, a spread of 5,775 RMB. The current price of 16,250 RMB sits below the median of 17,062.5 RMB, placing it in neither extreme low nor safe territory. Notably, it remains about 3.8% above the annual average of 15,646.99 RMB, suggesting that while the industry is still above cost, profit margins have been severely compressed.
Zero daily gains reflect extremely low trading activity. Both buyers and sellers are reluctant to act amid unclear downstream demand. Upstream caprolactam and PA6 chip prices have also softened, weakening cost support for nylon FDY. Downstream weaving and garment manufacturers are adopting a “purchase-as-needed” strategy, with stockpiling intentions at a freezing point.
High Inventory in Industrial Clusters, Transmission Effects Emerging
In key nylon clusters such as Changle (Fujian) and Xiaoshan (Zhejiang), factory operating rates have dropped 5-8 percentage points year-on-year. Some small and medium-sized polymerization and spinning mills have begun reducing loads or scheduling maintenance due to insufficient orders. Industry data shows that social inventories of nylon FDY have remained above 30 days for three consecutive months, far exceeding the healthy level of 15-20 days.
This pressure is cascading upstream. Caprolactam producers are being forced to offer discounts, and PA6 chip prices are declining, further undermining cost support for nylon FDY. For buyers, although current prices are in the middle-to-low range, the “buy on rising, not falling” mentality prevents large-scale replenishment.
Export Orders Diversify, Structural Opportunities Emerge
Export markets show clear divergence. According to China Customs data, nylon filament yarn exports grew about 4% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, but average export prices fell 6%. Orders from European and US markets are dominated by short and small batches due to weak consumer spending. In contrast, demand from Southeast and South Asian markets for mid-to-low-end nylon FDY remains relatively stable, providing a key support for some export-oriented companies.
Notably, prices for high-end differentiated products (e.g., micro-denier, high-tenacity nylon) have fallen much less than standard specifications, highlighting the pricing power afforded by technological barriers. This signals that the era of pure scale expansion is over; product upgrading is the core weapon against price volatility.