PA66 (Nylon 66) Price Trend and Forecast

Regional Price Overview

Get the latest insights on price movement and trend analysis of PA66 (Nylon 66) in different regions across the world (Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa).

PA66 (Nylon 66) Price Trend for the Second Half of 2023

Asia

In Asia, the beginning of the H2 of 2023 saw a minor stumble in PA66 price trends due to a downturn observed in the final month of the preceding quarters. However, contrary to trader's expectations, these trends gradually rose as the quarter progressed.

This inclining trajectory was driven by significant demand from the automotive and polymer industries, with government initiatives, particularly in China, further bolstering industry momentum. The traders also noticed a return in consumer confidence in the PA66 market as was evident in the number of sales of its derivative products. However, there were slight fluctuations restricting the market from reaching its full potential.

Europe

In Europe, the price trajectory of PA66 surged in the final quarter of 2023, coinciding with heightened market momentum in adjacent industries like PA6 and filament yarns. The smooth operations were driven by favorable consumer and investor sentiment leading to an increase in new orders from downstream textile and related sectors.

The market trend was further supported by the rise in investments and expansion of manufacturing activities in accordance with the demand for PA66. However, the European economy continued to struggle with challenges stemming from reduced exports due to the blockage of the Red Sea route and persistent inflationary pressures.

North America

Across North America, the overall outlook for PA66 prices in the last quarters of 2023 remained optimistic despite a lack of significant appreciation in its market dynamics. However, there was a marked improvement in momentum within end-user industries and consumer spending, supporting the uptick in market activities. Further, with a decrease in production costs and a rise in demand for PA66, the traders seized the opportunity to build up inventories ahead of anticipated price increases in the coming year.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price trend of PA66 is estimated to achieve new heights gradually in the forthcoming quarters as consumer demand and favorable operational rates seem to reflecting well on the PA66 market.

PA66 (Nylon 66) Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Asia

The Asian Nylon-66 market observed a fluctuating trend, mostly wavering at the lower end during the first half of 2023. The spot prices in the Chinese market went from 3190 USD/MT in January to around 2838 USD/MT in June’23, thereby registering an overall decline of 11%. The downstream demand was stagnant, and the market offtakes were negligible. The manufacturers had to shut down operations temporarily to stabilize the supply-demand dynamics. The overstocked market inventories negatively impacted the nylon 66 prices.

Europe

Nylon 66 prices stayed on a plunging trajectory for most of the said period. The demand posed by European markets stayed dull as inflation kept mounting. Germany witnessed an economic recession that altered consumer spending behaviour. As the demands were muted and inventories were oversupplied, given the lowered feedstock and freight prices, the price trend remained negative.

North America

The North American market behaved no differently than Asian and European markets for Nylon 66 price trend. After rising in the first month, prices mostly dwelled on the lower end. Here the rise in interest rates affected the purchasing capacities of buyers, causing the purchases to become more essentials centric. The nylon 66 market struggled with declining demands and oversupply. As freight normalized, cheap imports from China further aggravated the situation.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the Nylon 66 prices are expected to remain unsettled in the coming quarter. The dwindling demands amid overstocked inventories and rising inflation will impact the pricing fundamentals deeply.

PA66 Nylon 66 Price Trend for the Second Half of 2022

Asia

The Asian market saw a decline in the price trend of nylon 66 polymer. The major factor contributing to the decline in the cost of raw materials. Also, high inventories from the exporting countries further led to a decline in the prices. The supply was also surplus in comparison to the demand in the region, which further added to the fall in prices.

The fourth quarter, however, saw a slight rise in the prices of the commodity. This rise and strong growth in prices is attributed to the high demand from the textile industry. This rise in demand was accompanied by limited supply that fueled the prices further in the fourth quarter. The price of PA66/ Nylon 66 averaged around 3113 USD/MT ( Spot FD China) (approx..) towards the end of December’22.

Europe

The price of Nylon 66 polymer fluctuated throughout the third quarter. The high cost of feedstock, the increase in energy prices, and the rise in market uncertainty, all have led to an increase in the prices of the polymer. The fourth quarter, however, showcased an uprising trend in the prices for the first two months but the prices declined below the last quarter due to supply chain disruptions and a rise in the prices of energy production.

North America

The third quarter followed a downward trajectory for the prices of nylon-66 polymer. The major cause of the decline in prices is the low demand from the textile industry. The low demand is further accompanied by the surge in inventories and a fall in feedstock prices. All these factors contributed to the downward trend in the prices of the polymer. The situation did not improve much in the fourth quarter too. Strong supply from the domestic market and the rise in inflation were the major drivers for the decline in the prices of the polymer in the fourth quarter.

Analyst Insight

The prices of nylon 66  are likely to remain volatile during the coming month given the uncertainty of the market both in terms of demand from the textile industry and prices of feedstock.

For the Second Quarter of 2022

Asia

The price trend for PA66 weakened in the Asian market during the said quarter. The falling prices of feedstock adipic acid caused the prices of PA66 to crash in the domestic market. The price of adipic acid averaged 11900-12200 RMB/MT and that of PA66 averaged 26487.5 RMB/MT in the Chinese domestic market. Due to the low prices of adipic acid and the muted market sentiment, the supply increased, further weakening the prices of nylon products.

Europe

In contrast with the Asian market, the prices of PA66 surged in the European market. The rising feedstock prices of benzene, cyclohexane and adipic acid affected the price trend for PA66. The cost of adipic averaged 3709 USD/MT FOB Hamburg during the said quarter.

North America 

The raised prices of primary feedstocks coupled with the strong domestic demand kept the prices of PA66 afloat in the US domestic arena. The surging demand from the textile markets resulted in a shortage of inventories leading to a rise in price. The price of feedstock benzene averaged 1827 USD/MT FOB Louisiana in this quarter.

For the First Quarter of 2022

Asia

The Chinese domestic PA66 market was weak though stable in March 2022, with spot PA66 prices for each brand moving sideways. PA66 was sold for 31795 RMB/MT. The market for adipic acid, the upstream raw material, declined, while it remained stable for adiponitrile, and PA66 received widespread cost-side support.

The installation burden of domestic PA66 firms was significant, and cost pressure put a strain on PA66 enterprise earnings and downstream profits. High-priced supply was resisted by end users, and purchasing and stocking operations were typically on-demand. In the near future, PA66 is projected to be weak and difficult to modify.

For the Fourth Quarter of 2021

Asia

Market attitude for PA66 remained gloomy, owing to diminishing feedstocks and deteriorating downstream demand. PA66 prices fell by more than 5% in December, as downstream customers and other market players lost interest in last month of the year.

The record of feedstocks in December was disappointing, with prices for adipic acid and caprolactam falling by substantial amounts. There were no reports of feedstock production cuts, hence availability of feed remained good throughout the month.

Furthermore, the operating rates of PA66 were estimated to be greater than 70%, indicating that there was plenty of material in the domestic market. Manufacturers were under pressure to keep overall pricing of PA66 under control due to consistent production and low buyer interest.

Demand has been on the decline in the last quarter, as seen by the material's constant price decline. The automotive industry, a significant consumer of PA 66, experienced continued stagnation in offtakes, further dampening market sentiment.

Europe

BASF began marketing its extended engineered plastics portfolio, which included polyamide grades, in Q1 2021. This step provided enough PA supplies in European downstream sectors. The ease of supply of marketed segments is projected to offer stability to the PA portfolio's prices in Europe, which will be passed on to end-use customers. In November 2021, PA66 prices DDP Hamburg (Germany) were 6835 USD/MT.

North America

Prices dropped sharply as market dynamics rebalanced after the turbulent year of 2021. PA 6 prices were evaluated at 3640 USD/MT as of the first week of February, while PA66 prices were assessed at 4540 USD/MT on a FOB basis.

Due to demand recovery and production disruptions throughout the year, the polyamide market maintained on an upward trend in 2021. However, in 2022, the market turned negative, indicating a shift in market attitude over the previous several weeks.

Latin America

PA prices in Brazil had been poor in the final quarter as a result of stagnating demand fundamentals and increasing supply flexibility in the regional market. Because there were few to no production hiccups in Brazil, output levels were optimal. In Brazil, no scheduled or unscheduled plant shutdowns were reported. This gave the market players plenty of time to stockpile inventory after the turmoil of 2021.

For First, Second and Third Quarters of 2021

Asia

Due to a decrease in supply, the price was further boosted during the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays in February 2021. Plants did not supply the open market and only sold to their key customers, while traders demanded higher trading rates.

Polyamide supplies in the Asia Pacific region showed mixed trend in the second quarter, as limited availability of the upstream caprolactam hindered production of Nylon 6 and Nylon 66 in the regional home market. In China, however, consumption taxes on imported mixed aromatics commodities, as well as rising prices in the domestic market, exacerbated the shortage of polyamide resins.

Due to the influence of the second COVID wave on market activity in India, spot buyers were hesitant to purchase big volumes, resulting in a stagnation in Indian Polyamide offers during the second quarter. In June, ex-works Mumbai (India) PA66 prices (extrusion grade) were assessed at 3226 USD/MT.

Price of nylon-66 chips in China rose slightly by the end of third quarter of 2021 as the overall demand of the product increased gradually due to recovery from COVID-19. Due to plentiful supply and low demand from downstream sectors such as modified plastic and cord fabric, the price fell slightly in the first quarter of 2021.

PA66 prices in China went from 29,250 RMB/MT in January 2021 to 37,670 RMB/MT by the end of Q1 2021, recording a surge of 28.80%. It further shot up by 7.62% to 40,550 RMB/MT in June 2021.The price was expected to rise by 4.05%, to 42,190 RMB/MT in December 2021.

In India, the value of Polyamide fell during the third quarter. At the start of the quarter, there was an improvement in India's apparel exports to the US market. However, demand for Polyamide products in the domestic market remained flat. As a result, ex-Mumbai PA66 prices were 3038.29 USD/MT in July and 2966.70 USD/MT in September.

Europe

During Q1 2021, severe cold weather in the northwest European region strained Polyamide supply. Several significant factories were running at reduced capacity due to a lack of crucial feedstocks and raw materials, as well as transportation issues across the region.

However, demand increased as a result of increased use in the downstream automotive, construction, and textile industries. PA66 prices in Europe rose as a result of lower imports from the United States.

Due to scheduled and unanticipated turnarounds at several Nylon 6 facilities in Q2, overall supply of PA in the European market remained tight during the second quarter of 2021.

Due to a serious shortage of the feedstock caprolactam in the area market, production concerns were reported.

PA prices were stable during Q3, owing to strong demand from downstream industries such as textiles and automobiles. Furthermore, the rise in feedstock prices, combined with the pressure on producers to meet existing backlogs, inflated PA prices in the region. Exceptionally expensive freight rates and a lack of containers resulted in a supply deficit, which wreaked havoc on the region's prices. Since July, DDP Hamburg PA66 prices increased by 165 USD/MT.

North America

Due to the deep frost in the United States, which constrained feedstock supplies, PA 66 prices reached a nearly two-year high in May 2021, with prices reaching 4371 USD/MT. Since then, prices fell steadily.

PA66 prices started at 4062 USD/MT in July, then dropped to 3753 USD/MT in August, and finally to 3642 USD/MT in early-September. Furthermore, the price difference between polyamide 66 and the feedstock adipic acid narrowed, with adipic acid prices gradually rising in July-September due to supply constraints.

Polyamide supply in the North American market remained tight in Q2 2021 due to limited availability of upstream feedstocks, while Nylon 66 makers were concerned about low adipic acid production. During the third quarter of 2021, PA values in North America showed an increasing trend. Due to limited supply of feedstocks such as adipic acid and caprolactam, PA prices soared during this time period.

The demand was stable during the quarter, owing to an increase in downstream industry offtakes. Furthermore, the advent of Hurricane Ida in August affected production and supply rates, resulting in PA shortage and its downstream products in the North American market. As a result of the restricted availability and consistent demand pattern in the US, a continual price spike was noted during the quarter.

For the Year 2020

Asia

The Polyamide 66 industry in Asia did not have a particularly prosperous year in 2020. The nylon 66 industry had been crafting a new way to stay competitive and adjust to new demand patterns as mainland China transitioned to a new post-pandemic norm.

The Lunar New Year holiday in 2020 was expected to provide a respite for Asian market rebalancing, but the dream was dashed by the spread of COVID-19. Although demand rose in the second half of 2020, producers' profits were squeezed throughout the majority of the year.

The industry remained cautious about the robustness of the energy sector ahead of the Lunar New Year in 2021. Spot negotiations for polyamide chips were trading about 1200-1300 USD/MT CFR China in mid-September, with participants offering substantial discounts.

Europe

Due to the poor downstream buying, some producers were able to increase their Nylon 66 production outputs in Q3, allowing them to ramp up their outputs. As the number of Covid-19 cases resurfaced in Europe, prompting fears of a second coronavirus pandemic, players maintained a cautious attitude despite approaching market uncertainties.

As September progressed, strong demand for engineering plastics aided in securing large volume orders, with sales statistics for some producers topping September 2019. Industrial grade Nylon 66 contract prices fluctuated between rollovers and decreases in September, settling around 4650-4670 USD//MT NWE. However, the market rose from its lows as demand for Nylon in textile applications grew for a variety of home products, bolstered by increased demand from the garment sector.

North America

As the world economy recovered from the recession caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, prices of Nylon 66 base resins and compounds climbed in August due to strong demand for finished polymer. Beginning in mid-March, demand for PA66 declined significantly, while demand for nylon remained slow until August 2021. Starting in August, demand for all PA66 off-grade pellets, post-industrial (PI) fibres, and PI regrinds/shred increased again.

Since August, monthly demand for PA66 off-grade base resin had increased, and this trend continued in the fourth quarter of 2020 as well. In the American market, the price of both prime and inferior grade PA 66 had risen due to increased demand for resin. All second-quality Nylon 66 materials had a higher demand than supply.

The shortfall was mostly attributable to the fact that all of the PA 66 polymer plants in the United States and Asia had been operating at reduced capacity due to lower demand for completed products induced by the global economic slowdown brought on by the Covid-19 outbreak. From August to December, the price of PA66 off grade / broad specification resin climbed by roughly .10-.15 USD/lb.

Procurement Resource provides latest prices of PA66 (Nylon 66). Each price database is tied to a user-friendly graphing tool dating back to 2014, which provides a range of functionalities: configuration of price series over user defined time period; comparison of product movements across countries; customisation of price currencies and unit; extraction of price data as excel files to be used offline.