On August 28, the benchmark price of nylon POY settled at 14,625 CNY/ton, up 4.46% from the start of the month, while the annual average over the past year was only 13,058 CNY/ton. This level sits exactly at the midpoint of the one-year range, neither near the high of 16,950 CNY nor the low of 11,300 CNY. For the textile value chain, this position signals a more complex reality than the number alone suggests—it indicates that nylon filament has entered a relatively balanced but fragile phase after a trough.
Event Background
From an annual perspective, the price of nylon POY has fluctuated within a band of 5,650 CNY/ton, an amplitude of nearly 50%. The current level of 14,625 CNY/ton is 29.4% above the year's low, yet still 13.7% below the peak. This mid-range drift closely tracks the movement of caprolactam, the key feedstock. Industry public data shows that caprolactam rose approximately 5% over the same period, roughly in line with the monthly increase in nylon POY, indicating that cost pass-through is a primary driver of this uptick.
Notably, the price was 14,000 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month, climbing 625 CNY in just four weeks, with a daily gain of 0.86% at one point. This pace does not suggest panic buying, but rather a coordinated adjustment in inventory cycles between upstream and downstream. For buyers, the current level implies that raw material costs have risen notably from the start of the year, yet have not entered an overheated territory, leaving room for strategic maneuvering.
Industry Impact
Price changes in nylon POY directly transmit to downstream weaving and apparel segments. As a core raw material for nylon fabrics, every fluctuation in POY prices is amplified in greige goods and finished fabrics. At the current mid-range price, fabric makers face margin pressure, but not yet losses. More importantly, the upward shift in the price center may alter procurement patterns—over the past year, many companies grew accustomed to buying at low levels, whereas the current price demands more refined inventory management.
From a capacity perspective, domestic nylon POY capacity has expanded steadily in recent years, with industry operating rates hovering around 70%. This suggests that upside price potential is constrained by supply, unless demand surges unexpectedly. TexWorld observes that downstream orders have picked up moderately ahead of the autumn peak season, but the momentum is insufficient to push prices beyond previous highs. Therefore, in the short term, nylon POY is likely to oscillate around the current level, awaiting fresh directional signals.