The nylon DTY market entered a delicate price equilibrium in late July. According to industry public data, as of July 27, the benchmark price of nylon DTY stood at 16,120 CNY/ton, up 1.77% from the beginning of the month but flat on a daily basis. On an annual scale, this price sits near the midpoint—the yearly low is 13,560 CNY/ton, the high is 18,960 CNY/ton, and the median is 16,260 CNY/ton. The current price is 2,840 CNY below the peak and 2,560 CNY above the trough.
What does this imply? For the chemical fiber supply chain, this price is neither a bargain basement nor a panic buying zone. Nylon DTY, a value-added product of nylon filament yarn, is widely used in outdoor sportswear, down jacket fabrics, luggage textiles, and premium underwear. Its price trend often serves as a leading indicator of downstream weaving mills' willingness to stock up for autumn/winter fabrics.
Supply-Demand Dynamics at the Mid-Level
Over the past 12 months, nylon DTY prices have swung from 13,560 to 18,960 CNY/ton, a volatility of nearly 40%. The current 16,120 CNY/ton level represents a stabilization after retreating from last year's highs. National Bureau of Statistics data previously showed that chemical fiber raw material prices generally faced pressure in H2 2025, but since Q1 2026, cost support has emerged as crude oil prices stabilized and caprolactam supply tightened.
Notably, the zero daily change on July 27 suggests a lack of near-term catalysts. Upstream, caprolactam prices are oscillating narrowly, weakening cost transmission. Downstream, weaving mills in Jiangsu and Zhejiang report mostly short-run and small-lot orders, with bulk orders yet to materialize. This lack of directional signals from both ends has created a temporary equilibrium at the mid-range.
For buyers, this equilibrium presents both opportunity and risk. The opportunity lies in the absence of price spikes, allowing phased procurement; the risk is that once autumn/winter orders concentrate, prices could break out of the mid-range quickly.
Regional Response and Seasonal Expectations
Key consumption hubs for nylon DTY include Changle in Fujian, Wujiang in Jiangsu, and Shaoxing in Zhejiang—clusters of knitting and warp-knitting industries. Weaving mills in these regions typically start stocking for autumn/winter fabrics from mid-August to early September. With two to three weeks before the stocking window opens, the mid-range price offers a relatively relaxed procurement pace.
However, caution is warranted. Terminal apparel retail data for 2026 has not shown a clear recovery. According to General Administration of Customs data, the growth rate of textile and apparel exports narrowed in H1, and inventory digestion in some markets has been slower than expected. This means downstream mills will adopt a cautious, low-inventory, fast-turnover strategy. If terminal orders fail to pick up, nylon DTY prices may continue to hover at the mid-range or even edge lower.