PA6, also known as Nylon 6, is a widely used engineering thermoplastic with applications in automotive components, textiles, industrial parts, packaging films, and consumer goods. As a polymer derived primarily from caprolactam, its pricing is heavily influenced by feedstock trends, energy costs, and end-user demand cycles. Monitoring the PA6 (Nylon 6) Price Trend is critical for procurement teams, manufacturers, and market analysts to ensure competitive sourcing, cost control, and strategic contract negotiations.
Latest market sentiment
The PA6 market in recent months has shown mixed signals. Automotive and industrial demand has been moderately strong, but textile-grade consumption has softened in certain regions due to shifting apparel production schedules. Caprolactam price stability has helped keep PA6 offers relatively steady, although fluctuations in crude oil and benzene markets continue to pose cost-side risks. Logistics conditions are improving compared to the previous year, easing some delivered-cost pressure for buyers.
Key factors influencing the PA6 (Nylon 6) Price Trend
Feedstock cost dynamics
Caprolactam is the primary raw material for PA6 production, and its price is directly linked to benzene and phenol markets, which in turn depend on crude oil price trends. Volatility in oil markets quickly transmits through the value chain.
Energy and production economics
PA6 production is energy-intensive. Electricity and steam tariffs significantly influence manufacturing costs, especially in countries with variable industrial energy rates.
Demand from end-use sectors
Automotive, electrical, and packaging industries drive the bulk of PA6 consumption. Seasonal demand fluctuations, particularly from the textile sector, can lead to short-term market shifts.
Trade flows and supply balance
Imports and exports play a major role in balancing regional supply. Tariff changes, anti-dumping duties, and freight rates all impact landed costs for PA6.
Historical price trends and analysis
Looking at PA6 pricing over the past 24–36 months reveals:
- Feedstock-driven rallies caused by spikes in benzene and caprolactam prices.
- Demand-led tightness during peak automotive production cycles.
- Freight and tariff-related shifts influencing regional price parity between Asia, Europe, and North America.
Maintaining a historical chart with moving averages and annotations for major events—such as plant shutdowns, raw material price spikes, or policy changes—helps procurement teams differentiate between short-term noise and structural trends.
Forecasting approaches for PA6 pricing
A professional PA6 forecast model includes:
- Caprolactam and benzene feedstock price projections
- Global automotive and industrial demand outlooks
- Trade flow mapping to identify potential supply surpluses or shortages
- Scenario analysis for crude oil price volatility
- Currency trends for major producing and consuming countries
Forecasts are better expressed as price corridors rather than single-point predictions to accommodate market uncertainty.
Procurement insights and strategies
Buyers are increasingly using feedstock-linked indexed pricing for transparency. Contracts with quarterly review clauses allow for adjustments based on raw material cost changes. Diversifying suppliers between Asia and Europe can help mitigate regional risks, especially during periods of high freight rates or production outages.
Regional insights and analysis
Asia Pacific
China is a major producer and consumer, with pricing shaped by domestic automotive and textile industries. Seasonal production cycles for textiles often influence spot availability.
Europe
European PA6 prices reflect higher energy costs and stricter environmental regulations. Imports from Asia and the Middle East help fill demand gaps, but logistics costs remain influential.
North America
Automotive and industrial applications dominate demand. Domestic production is steady, but imports are used to balance supply during peak seasons or maintenance outages.
Middle East Africa / Latin America
Demand is growing, particularly in automotive and industrial sectors, with most supply met through imports.
Tracking tools: Charts and databases
An effective PA6 price tracking platform includes:
- Weekly and monthly average prices for different grades (injection molding, textile, film)
- FOB and CFR price breakdowns
- Feedstock overlays for caprolactam and benzene
- Import/export data by region and supplier
Procurement Resource dashboards deliver these features with methodology notes, trade term details, and reliability scores for procurement decision-making.
Newsflow indicators to monitor
- Caprolactam plant maintenance schedules and outages
- Crude oil and benzene market shifts
- Automotive production data in key manufacturing hubs
- Changes in trade duties and tariffs
- Freight cost changes impacting polymer shipments
These developments often lead price changes by weeks, allowing buyers to plan ahead.
Applying this in procurement
Strategically time RFQs to periods when feedstock prices show downward momentum. Lock in freight rates in advance for high-volume orders. Maintain a minimum of two pre-qualified suppliers per region to reduce supply chain disruption risk.
Historical data forecast file structure
For procurement teams, keep:
- History tab: Monthly and weekly PA6 prices with annotated events.
- Forecast tab: Scenario-based projections with feedstock assumptions.
- Supplier tab: Regional supplier details, terms, and performance ratings.
Audit-ready data strengthens procurement decision-making and contract negotiations.
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Contact Information
Company Name: Procurement Resource
Contact Person: Ashish Sharma (Sales Representative)
Email: sales@procurementresource.com
Location: 30 North Gould Street, Sheridan, WY 82801, USA
Phone:
UK: +44 7537171117
USA: +1 307 363 1045
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