The benchmark price of nylon POY settled at 14,000 yuan/ton on July 30, 2026, up 2.56% from the beginning of the month but still nearly 18% below the yearly high of 16,950 yuan/ton. Sitting at the mid-point of its one-year range, this price signals neither euphoria nor despair—for the chemical fiber industry, it marks a critical transition from cost-driven to supply-demand balanced dynamics.
Price Coordinates: Industry Signals Behind the Mid-Range
Over the past year, nylon POY prices swung from a trough of 11,300 yuan/ton to a peak of 16,950 yuan/ton, an annual amplitude exceeding 49%. The current price of 14,000 yuan/ton is close to the median of 14,125 yuan/ton and about 8.6% above the annual average of 12,894.95 yuan/ton. This suggests the market has entered a rational consolidation phase after extreme volatility.
On the cost side, the upstream raw material caprolactam has shown a similar stabilization pattern. Steadier feedstock prices mean that nylon POY producers' profit margins are normalizing, allowing downstream weaving mills to plan procurement more confidently without fear of sudden cost surges or collapses eating into their margins.
Industrial Transmission: Ripple Effects from Fiber to Apparel
As a key intermediate in the textile chemical fiber sector, nylon POY price movements directly transmit to grey fabric, finished fabric, and ultimately to garment production. The current mid-range price creates divergent impacts across the chain:
- For nylon filament yarn producers, 14,000 yuan/ton offers a reasonable processing margin—neither loss-making nor triggering overcapacity expansion. Industry operating rates are likely to stay within a healthy 70%-80% range, avoiding cutthroat competition.
- For weaving mills, stable raw material prices reduce inventory risk. Over the past year, many mills were forced to adjust order quotes or even default on contracts due to volatile feedstock costs. The current environment favors long-term, large-volume orders.
- For apparel brands and foreign trade buyers, stabilized nylon POY prices enhance cost predictability, especially for sportswear and outdoor gear categories that heavily use nylon fabrics.
Regional Industrial Clusters: Inventory Strategy Adjustments in Keqiao and Shengze
As China's largest chemical fiber fabric distribution hubs, weaving mills in Keqiao (Shaoxing) and Shengze (Wujiang) have recently adjusted their raw material inventory strategies. According to industry data, the average nylon POY inventory turnover days in these two areas have dropped from around 15 days at the start of the year to about 10 days currently, indicating a preference for just-in-time purchasing over stockpiling. This cautious shift confirms market acceptance of the current mid-range price—neither bullish nor bearish, but waiting for clearer directional signals.
Notably, maintenance shutdowns at several nylon chip production facilities in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces are expected to reduce supply by 3%-5% over the next month. Combined with stable demand, this could push nylon POY prices slightly higher, though the likelihood of breaking the previous high of 16,950 yuan/ton remains low.