Caprolactam prices were unchanged in the U.S. market for the Week Ending 26 December 2025. Steady feedstock prices and import flows, and a cautious approach toward the end of the year balanced the market, with neither the supply side nor the demand side applying any pressure on the price.
The supply situation in the United States Caprolactam market remained in equilibrium through late December, with support from favorable economics and steady production runs. Prices of cyclohexanone were steady this week, meanwhile a 1.4% drop in benzene further decreased overall production costs and margin of inland Caprolactam producers was strengthened as a result. This price stability coincided with a strengthening and expanding U.S. manufacturing sector in general, which served as a tailwind for polymer production.
Imports from Asia and Europe were strong, and this did not impact negatively even when freight rates rose by 1% in Drewry's World Container Index. Minor vendor delays related to tariffs and transportation remained, but inbound Caprolactam volumes were not impacted as domestic demand was flat. Plant production remained steady without any impacts from shutdowns, and inventory positions of both producers and distributors remained in balance.
The domestic Caprolactam market was in a stalemate with the demand from the downstream industry maintaining stable. Auto production and sales climbed to 1,274,624 units in November, up 0.2% from the previous month, providing baseline demand for engineering plastics in connectors and housings.
The apparel industry was also steady, with Black Friday foot traffic registering only a 0.7% year-over-year decline-a situation that barely differed from last year-further cementing consumers’ preference for purchasing fashion products in-store. This gave apparel companies sufficient reason to display steady buying patterns for Caprolactam despite the overall sluggish sales environment.
However, end-year behaviour remained sufficiently restrictive concerning heavy purchases—as players chose to focus on liquidating existing stocks instead of indulging in speculative purchases. Electronics and selective downstream sectors maintained their routine purchases, and none of them contributed positively to new Caprolactam buying.
U.S. Caprolactam prices are anticipated to remain range bound in the near future, as the usual year end lull in activity develops. Buyers are likely to procure strictly on a need basis prioritizing inventory reduction rather than fresh restocking which will cap any upward price momentum. Supplies are expected to remain adequate on the back of earlier procurement activities which have maintained balanced inventories among manufacturers and distributors. As a result, Caprolactam prices are expected to be stable through late December and early January, suggesting a market of balance and not growth.
