Caprolactam Price Trend and Forecast

Regional Price Overview

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

Caprolactam Price Trend for the Q1 of 2024

Asia

The major driver of the caprolactam market in Asian countries is the downstream nylon sector. Along with the nylon industries, other end-user sectors performed well during the first quarter of 2024, supporting an incline in the price trend of caprolactam.

Caprolactam Price Chart

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The market also grew with the rise in the cost of crude oil and other raw materials, which drove up the overall cost of production, forcing the traders to raise their price quotations. Additionally, the rise in the profit margins from limited exported volumes to European countries further worked in favor of the Asian caprolactam market. The ongoing geopolitical crises, imbalances in the supply-demand rates, and rising awareness about sustainable choices supported an uptrend in the c caprolactam in Q1 of 2024.

Europe

The European caprolactam prices maintained stability despite rising feedstock prices, notably for benzene and naphtha. During the first quarter of 2024, the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have spurred fluctuations in crude oil prices, impacting global energy markets. However, weak demand from downstream industries in Europe, particularly in the textile and automotive sectors, led to a reduction in operational rates and a decline in the number of fresh orders for caprolactam.

In Germany, the Polyamide 6 market remained stagnant, with minimal transactions and average buying activity for caprolactam, exerting a negative influence on the market momentum. Additionally, declining sales of new cars, particularly electric vehicles, and a decrease in export orders have further dampened demand.

North America

In the previous quarter, the caprolactam market bore the ill consequences of a number of challenges, such as economic volatility, falling demand, and excessive supplies. However, the dynamics of the market changed during the first quarter of 2024. The major cause of this sudden upturn in the market condition was the slow influx of overseas produce and the rise in the domestic operational rates.

Due to the increase in turbulence in the transportation sector with the blockage of the Red Sea route and rising geopolitical tensions, the freight charges inclined, leading to an abrupt surge in the imported caprolactam. In view of this, the consumers moved towards domestic produce which helped the traders in increasing their pricing quotations of caprolactam.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price trend of Caprolactam is estimated to stabilize and attain stagnancy in the upcoming months as the polymer sector has likely saturated in terms of demand for the commodity, and the fluctuating prices of raw materials might only offer limited support.

Caprolactam Price Trend for the October - December of 2023

Asia

Caprolactam, a cyclic amide, observed weak market trend during the fourth quarter of the year 2023. Caprolactam, which uses other cyclic compounds like phenol, cyclohexane, and oximes for its production, witnessed a close alliance with its feedstock phenol price trend during the given time frame.

The demands from various consumption industries like textiles and automobiles also influenced caprolactam price trend. However, the inventory stocks were already running high in Asia during this time, primarily because of the slumped industrial activities for the majority of this year.

The international trade for caprolactam was also very limited. So, the price trend for caprolactam kept on a downhill trajectory throughout the said period. These trend were similar to the feedstock phenol price trend in the Asian region during this time. Overall, dull market sentiments were observed for Caprolactam throughout the entire period of Q4’23.

Europe

The European Caprolactam market behaved no differently than the Asian market as the price trend were observed to be depreciating here as well. The unconsumed stockpiles pushed the caprolactam market trend downwards. Dull demands from the polymer and plastic industries added to the downward push. Falling raw material prices also didn’t help in raising the Caprolactam prices. Conclusively, dull market trend were observed for Caprolactam throughout the said period in the European markets.

North America

The US Caprolactam market too followed its Asian and European counterparts in the final quarter of 2023. Retardation in market offtakes and ample supplies forced the Caprolactam rates down. The general market run was observed to be underwhelming during the discussed period.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the Caprolactam price trend are expected to continue falling in the coming months as well; since the downstream industries are not indicating any upliftment in the market demands, the prices are likely to remain wavering at the lower end.

Caprolactam Price Trend for the July - September of 2023

Asia

Caprolactam experienced fluctuating price patterns during the third quarter of 2023. After starting slow at the beginning of the quarter, the prices picked up momentum mid-quarter. Feedstock benzene prices primarily dictated the caprolactam market dynamics along with the posed demands from the dyes, fillers, chemicals, and surface product industries.

The inventories were sufficient at the beginning of Q3; however, the demands rose from feeble to considerable and long pushed the market trend up. However, as the last month of the quarter arrived, the caprolactam demands again started taking a backseat, and the excess inventories started to dominate the market trend. Overall, mixed market trend were observed.

Europe

The European caprolactam market still remained under inflationary pressure. Domestic production suffered gravely because of the war being fought in the European backyard. The hiked interest rates weakened the end customer purchasing powers in the long run, which is why the consumption became centered around necessities, especially in Europe. Overall, lackluster demands promoted feeble market dynamics for caprolactam in the region.

North America

The North American market fluctuated within a narrow range for caprolactam during the discussed period. The upstream cost support was not noteworthy, especially from the feedstock side. Albeit the stable demands almost got the caprolactam price graph to plateau. Overall, wavering price trend were observed.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the caprolactam prices will continue to fluctuate going forward since the global economic dynamics will play a key role in determining the price patterns.

Caprolactam Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Asia

Fluctuating price trend were observed for Caprolactam during the said period in the Asian regional market. These price patterns were primarily dominated by dull downstream demands, given that the present inventory stocks could easily cater to the existing demands. Declined upstream costs because of the decreased crude oil and freight costs also played a crucial role by depleting the cost support. Overall, bearish market sentiments were observed.

Europe

The European Caprolactam market could not behave any differently than the Asian Caprolactam market during H1 2023. Since the consumer sentiment was very necessity-centric, Caprolactam didn’t get much interest, resulting in feeble downstream and end consumer demands. Restored supply chains and improved freight situation also reduced the cost support significantly. So, dull demands amidst high inflation led the Caprolactam prices on a declining trajectory. Overall, low swinging price trend were observed.

North America

The North American Caprolactam market followed the global slowing trend throughout the said period. The market remained riddled with dull demands and filled inventories. In order to move the inventories, suppliers kept discounting the prices. But to their dismay, the demands didn’t pick up as the collapse of two major US banks had given a major blow to the buyer sentiments in the region. So, the Caprolactam prices kept wavering on the lower end of the curve.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, price trend for Caprolactam are expected to fluctuate similarly in the upcoming months since the downstream demands will remain unsettled amid rising inflation.

Procurement Resource provides latest prices of Caprolactam. 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.