Product
PA6 (Nylon 6) Price Trends and Forecast
PA6 (Nylon 6) Price Trends and Forecast
Regional Price Overview
Get the latest insights on price movement and trends analysis of PA6 (Nylon 6) in different regions across the world (Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa).
-price-trends-and-forecast.webp)
Nylon 6 Price Trends for the First Half of 2023
Asia
H1 2023 witnessed a mixed price pattern for Nylon 6 in the Asian market. In the Chinese domestic market, the spot prices of nylon 6 averaged around 2002 USD/MT in January and went to about 1890 USD/MT in June’23, thereby registering an overall decline of 5%. The feedstock materials caprolactam and benzene saw price hikes, leading to a momentary incline in the production costs of Nylon 6. However, the bearish downstream demand kept the overall market muted.
Europe
The European Nylon 6 market witnessed an oscillating price pattern in the first half of 2023. The prices inclined slightly given the regional imbalances; however, overall, the price trends kept on a lowered trajectory. With no fresh demands from the downstream sectors, the manufacturers were forced to lower their quotations in hopes of positive product movement. The arrival of cheap imports from China further destabilized the supply-demand dynamics of the market.
North America
The North American nylon-6 market replicated the global trends. Owing to feeble demand, the prices were kept on the lower side of the scale. However, certain peaks were observed, given the momentary rise in feedstock prices. However, any such inclines were short-lived, and overall, the pricing fundamentals kept negative.
Analyst Insight
According to the Procurement Resource, Nylon-6 prices will continue this teetering trends in the upcoming months. The demand projections do not look promising, and the fluctuating feedstock prices will continue to impact the prices.
PA6 (Nylon 6) Price Trends for the Second Half of 2022
Asia
The third quarter showcased mixed trends for the prices of Nylon 6 polymer. The price of caprolactam dipped resulting in a dip in the prices of Nylon 6 polymer. However, the demand from the textile and furniture industry helped in maintaining the price range of the commodity. In addition to that, the demand from cord-fabric, monofilament and other non-textile industries derived the price of this polymer.
The trends was however not followed by the fourth quarter. The prices fell steeply in the fourth quarter averaging around 1908 USD/MT (Spot FD China) towards the end of the said period due to weak demand and rising inventories. High tariffs and fluctuations in polymer prices further decreased the pricing of the commodity.
Europe
The price of Nylon 6 polymer dipped in the third quarter due to the fall in the price of raw materials required for its production. In addition to that, the market for nylon chips, and nylon filaments, also saw a dip in their prices. Also, the decrease in the price of caprolactam further fueled the dip in the price trends. The textile industry also did not favour the price growth of the polymer as the industrial demand remained low throughout the quarter.
The fourth quarter also followed a similar trends and the price of nylon-6 continued to dip. The contraction in demand from the apparel industry was due to a decline in the usage of the polymer in the manufacturing process. The unstable feedstock market and rising inflation further resulted in the decline in the price of this polymer.
North America
The low supply of raw materials for the production of Nylon-6 polymer resulted in the decline in the prices of this polymer in the North American market. However, the industries tend to maintain the equilibrium by increasing the demand for this fibre throughout the third quarter.
The textile industry remains the major driver of the market for the third quarter. However, due to the strong supply and uncertain market conditions, the prices continued to fall. In the fourth quarter also, the prices followed a similar trends. High inventory and the low cost of raw materials were the major cause of the decline in the prices of the commodity.
Analyst Insight
The prices of nylon- 6 are likely to remain volatile during the coming month given the uncertainty of the market both in terms of raw materials and polymer along with the strong supply from the manufacturers.
For the Second Quarter of 2022
Asia
Owing to the rising crude oil prices, the prices of feedstock benzene skyrocketed globally, thereby driving the prices of caprolactam (CPL) further. In the Chinese domestic market, the cost of caprolactam averaged 14800 RMB/MT during the said quarter. Since feedstock caprolactam remained firm throughout the domestic market, it supported the higher prices of PA6.
However, towards the end of June, the prices of PA6 began to dip due to the great production and off-season muted demand from the downstream industries. PA6 prices averaged 16,500 RMB/MT in the domestic market.
Europe
The extreme instability and volatility impacted the prices of petrochemicals, thereby affecting all nylon-based products. The high costs of benzene and caprolactam caused the PA6 prices to inflate in the European market. Per ton price of benzene averaged 1427 USD FOB Hamburg in the said quarter.
Since the production of PA6 is a highly energy-intensive process, the manufacturers passed the rising costs of inputs to the downstream sectors. The strong demand from the fibre, automotive and semiconductor sectors sustained the high price trends of PA6.
North America
In line with the European market, the prices of PA6 in the US domestic arena remained strong throughout the quarter. The tightened supply, low inventories and increasing demand from the downstream sector sustained the higher prices across the US market.
For the First Quarter of 2022
PA 6 prices were around 15933.33 RMB/MT in China in March 2022. In February, BASF announced that it will increase the price of carpolactum and PA 6 by 0.10 USD/lb, effective March 1.
In 2020, Asia-Pacific had the highest share of the polyamide-6 market, accounting for 40.6%. Due to the rapidly growing population, rise in the automotive industry, favourable government policies, growing electrical and electronics industries, and growing textile production in developing economies such as China, Japan, South Korea, and India in this region, Asia-Pacific is dominating the market.
Because of the rising usage of polyamide-6 in automobiles, the automotive industry has the largest market share of all end-users in the worldwide polyamide-6 market. Growing vehicle production and sales, manufacturing sector advancements, low-cost labour availability, and raw material availability, notably in India and China, are likely to raise polyamide-6 demand in the region.
Procurement Resource provides latest prices of PA6 (Nylon 6). 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.
About
PA6 (Nylon 6) is a polymer that was developed to reproduce the properties of nylon 6,6 without violating its production patent. PA6 (Nylon 6), a semicrystalline polyamide, is not a condensation polymer unlike most other nylons. It is widely used in plastic and textile industry. It is produced using ring-opening polymerization. Owing to its unique properties like high tensile strength, excellent resistance to abrasion and high elasticity and lustre, demand for Nylon 6 has been growing in packaging and engineering plastics sector.
Product Details
| Report Features | Details |
| Product Name | PA6 (Nylon 6) |
| Industrial Uses | Carpets, Tire cords, Apparel, Hosiery and upholstery, Seat belts, Parachutes, Ropes and industrial cords, Extrusion, injection and blow moulding, Engineering materials, Moulded parts |
| Chemical Formula | (C6H11NO)n |
| Synonyms | 25038-54-4, Polyamide 6 (PA6), Poly(azepan-2-one); poly(hexano-6-lactam), Poly[azanediyl(1-oxohexane-1,6-diyl)], Polycaprolactam |
| Supplier Database | BASF SE, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Ter Hell Plastic GmbH, Formosa Group , Radici Partecipazioni SpA , Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co SJSC or Petro Rabigh, Lanxess AG, Evonik Industries AG |
| Region/Countries Covered | Asia Pacific: China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand, South Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Israel, Hongkong, Singapore, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Australia, and New Zealand Europe: Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Ireland Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Finland, Czech Republic, Portugal and Greece North America: United States and Canada Latin America: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco |
| Currency | US$ (Data can also be provided in local currency) |
| Supplier Database Availability | Yes |
| Customization Scope | The report can be customized as per the requirements of the customer |
| Post-Sale Analyst Support | 360-degree analyst support after report delivery |
Note: Our supplier search experts can assist your procurement teams in compiling and validating a list of suppliers indicating they have products, services, and capabilities that meet your company's needs.
Production Processes
- Production of PA6 (Nylon 6) via Ring-Opening Polymerisation; and via Two Step Polymerisation
In order to produce PA6 (Nylon 6), the ring opening polymerisation process is utilised. In this process, caprolactam is used as a monomer, which undergoes hydrolytic mechanism to finally give PA6 (Nylon 6).
Methodology
The displayed pricing data is derived through weighted average purchase price, including contract and spot transactions at the specified locations unless otherwise stated. The information provided comes from the compilation and processing of commercial data officially reported for each nation (i.e. government agencies, external trade bodies, and industry publications).
Table Of Contents
Assistance from Experts
Procurement Resource is a one-stop solution for businesses aiming at the best industry insights and market evaluation in the arena of procurement. Our team of market leaders covers all the facets of procurement strategies with its holistic industry reports, extensive production cost and pre-feasibility insights, and price trends dynamics impacting the cost trajectories of the plethora of products encompassing various industries. With the best analysis of the market trends and comprehensive consulting in light of the best strategic footstep, Procurement Resource got all that it takes.
Client's Satisfaction
Procurement Resource has made a mark for itself in terms of its rigorous assistance to its clientele. Our experienced panel of experts leave no stone unturned in ensuring the expertise at every step of our clients' strategic procurement journey. Our prompt assistance, prudential analysis, and pragmatic tactics considering the best procurement move for industries are all that sets us apart. We at Procurement Resource value our clients, which our clients vouch for.
Assured Quality
Expertise, judiciousness, and expedience are the crucial aspects of our modus operandi at Procurement Resource. Quality is non-negotiable, and we don't compromise on that. Our best-in-class solutions, elaborative consulting substantiated by exhaustive evaluation, and fool-proof reports have led us to come this far, making us the ‘numero uno' in the domain of procurement. Be it exclusive qualitative research or assiduous quantitative research methodologies, our high quality of work is what our clients swear by.