In January 2026, the nylon filament market overall exhibited a weak and stable operating trend, characterized by weak and steady support from upstream costs, persistently sluggish downstream demand, low prices, and increasing inventory pressure.

On the cost side, upstream caprolactam prices remained stable, providing weak but steady support for nylon filament, though the support was limited. On the demand side, the downstream textile and apparel sector remained sluggish due to the off-season, while industrial applications showed steady growth. Overall demand was insufficient, with weak support from rigid demand. On the supply side, industry capacity was ample, with stable production operations among enterprises, and inventory pressure continued to rise. The oversupply of conventional products was evident. On the price front, constrained by multiple factors, prices remained low and stable with limited fluctuations, and actual transactions were mostly negotiated based on market conditions.

According to the commodity market analysis system of Business Society, nylon filament prices remained stable in January 2026, staying at low levels. As of January 30, 2026, the quoted price for nylon filament DTY (premium grade; 70D/24F) in Jiangsu was 13,760 yuan/ton; nylon POY (premium grade; 86D/24F) was quoted at 11,500 yuan/ton; and nylon FDY (premium grade; 40D/12F) was priced at 14,275 yuan/ton, all unchanged from the previous month.

Limited Support from Raw Materials
In terms of costs, the upstream raw material market for nylon filament remained generally stable in January 2026, without significant fluctuations, providing weak but steady support for nylon filament. However, the support was insufficient to drive price increases. For core raw material caprolactam, domestic supply was ample this month, with leading enterprises maintaining stable production. Major suppliers such as Hengshen Group and Baling Petrochemical ensured steady supply. Domestic caprolactam capacity has reached 6.8 million tons/year, with the self-sufficiency rate rising to 92.5%, effectively mitigating price volatility risks associated with import dependency. In terms of prices, caprolactam prices fluctuated slightly before stabilizing. As of January 30, the benchmark price of caprolactam on Business Society was 9,500 yuan/ton, largely unchanged from the beginning of the month.

Supply and Demand
In January 2026, nylon filament enterprises maintained stable overall production. Leading enterprises, leveraging scale advantages and stable downstream customers, maintained operating rates of 85%–90%. Small and medium-sized enterprises, affected by sluggish demand, saw slightly lower operating rates, ranging from 70% to 80%. Overall, industry supply remained ample. Inventory pressure continued to rise, with industry inventory levels trending upward, and some enterprises holding relatively high inventories.

In January 2026, the downstream market for nylon filament was in a seasonal off-season, compounded by the approaching Spring Festival. Downstream enterprises gradually entered holiday shutdowns, leading to persistently low procurement enthusiasm. Overall demand remained weak, failing to provide effective support for the nylon filament market, which became a core factor constraining market recovery this month.

Future Outlook
As the Spring Festival approaches, nylon filament producers face inventory reduction needs, while weaving enterprises gradually halt operations, leading to further contraction in downstream demand. Upstream raw material support remains relatively strong, with some caprolactam producers reducing output, gradually easing raw material inventory pressure. The tug-of-war between upstream and downstream segments of the industry continues.

From the supply perspective, market supply remains stable, with the supply structure still relatively loose. There are no clear signals of improvement in the supply-demand balance. Overall, nylon filament prices are expected to remain low and stable in February, with limited price fluctuations around the Spring Festival. Some specifications may experience slight adjustments due to inventory pressure, but the downside is limited. After the holiday, as demand gradually recovers and raw material prices stabilize, prices may stabilize slightly. Business Society analysts predict that a significant price increase is unlikely in the short term. In the long run, with continued industry capacity expansion and persistent supply-demand imbalances, nylon filament prices are expected to remain in a low-range fluctuating pattern.