The price trajectory of nylon DTY is providing the chemical fiber industry with a real-time diagnostic report on supply-demand balance. According to publicly available industry data, the benchmark price of nylon DTY stood at 16,120 yuan per ton on July 29, up 1.77% from the beginning of the month, but remaining at a mid-level for the entire year. Behind this data lies a persistent tug-of-war between raw material cost support and cautious downstream procurement, presenting both opportunities and challenges for decision-makers across the supply chain.
Price Range and Market Positioning
Looking at the annual price range, nylon DTY hit a low of 13,560 yuan per ton and a high of 18,960 yuan per ton over the past year. The current price of 16,120 yuan per ton is close to the median value of 16,260 yuan per ton, indicating that the market has returned to a relatively balanced point after experiencing sharp fluctuations. Notably, the current price is still nearly 7% above the annual average of 15,129.29 yuan per ton, suggesting that the market has not fully returned to low-level operations.
For buyers, this mid-range price means procurement costs are within a manageable range, but there is no clear opportunity for bargain hunting. Historically, when prices approach the bottom (e.g., 13,560 yuan per ton), it is often accompanied by oversupply at the raw material end or a sharp drop in demand, making inventory management extremely challenging. The current mid-range operation, on the other hand, provides stable expectations for on-demand procurement.
Upstream Cost Transmission and Downstream Demand Game
The price fluctuation of nylon DTY is directly influenced by the cost changes of upstream caprolactam and PA6 chips. Recent crude oil prices oscillating between $70 and $80 per barrel have provided relatively firm support for caprolactam costs, which is the core driving force behind the 1.77% price increase of nylon DTY since the beginning of the month. However, orders from downstream weaving and garment enterprises have not shown a simultaneous increase. In particular, the growth rate of demand for chemical fiber fabrics in the end-consumer market has slowed, significantly compressing the upward space for nylon DTY prices.
Looking at the annual price trend, after experiencing a low point from late 2025 to early 2026, nylon DTY prices gradually rebounded to a mid-level in the second quarter. However, the rebound momentum is notably weaker than in previous years, reflecting a shift in downstream procurement strategies from 'stockpiling in anticipation of price increases' to 'buying as needed.' The Texworld editorial team believes that this change in procurement behavior indicates a weak market expectation for sustained price increases, and price hikes lack effective support from the demand side.
Industrial Cluster Reactions and Regional Divergence
In major nylon DTY production areas such as Changle, Fujian, and Xiaoshan, Zhejiang, enterprise operating rates remain around 70%, down about 5 percentage points year-on-year. Some small and medium-sized nylon texturing plants have proactively reduced capacity utilization to control inventory risks as profit margins are squeezed. On the consumption side, the turnover of nylon grey fabrics in textile distribution centers like Shengze and Keqiao has slowed, with traders generally maintaining low inventory levels and reluctant to increase stockpiles at mid-range prices.
This regional supply-demand contraction is forming a negative feedback loop: intermediaries reduce purchases, factories are forced to cut prices to destock, and price declines further reinforce the wait-and-see sentiment among buyers. Whether the current price of 16,120 yuan per ton can become a temporary bottom depends on whether the traditional peak season in the third quarter can bring about a substantial recovery in demand.
Outlook for the Second Half of the Year
Combining the top difference (-2,840 yuan per ton) and bottom difference (+2,560 yuan per ton) from the annual statistics, the probability of a continued significant upward movement in nylon DTY prices is low. On one hand, new caprolactam capacity is scheduled to be released intensively in the second half of 2026, which could further suppress costs due to an oversupply of raw materials. On the other hand, the effect of overseas textile order transfers is weakening, with the growth rate of nylon fabrics directly exported to European and American markets dropping from double digits to single digits.
It is expected that nylon DTY prices will fluctuate in the range of 15,000 to 17,000 yuan per ton in the second half of the year. If there is no significant improvement in demand, the price center may shift downward toward 15,000 yuan per ton. For enterprises in the industrial chain, the current mid-range price offers a critical window for adjusting inventory structures and optimizing procurement schedules.