For the Quarter Ending March 2022
North America
Prices of Caprolactam dropped continuously in the North American market throughout the 1st quarter of 2022. However, feed Cyclohexanone prices were stable in the North American market. High-cost pressure from upstream industries towards the end of the quarter caused increased values of Caprolactam. The demand from the downstream textile industry remained sluggish during the winter season, which negatively impacted the prices, and values of Caprolactam in the US market. The Caprolactam prices on FOB basis at Texas USA are recorded at USD 2020/MT by the end of March. The average decrease was 12% from the last quarter of 2021.
Asia Pacific
Prices fluctuated throughout Q1 in the Asian market. Caprolactam prices in China were assessed at USD 2222/tonne by the end of March 2022, with an average decrease of 6% from the last quarter of 2021. Prices of Caprolactam rose initially in the Chinese market due to an increase in feed Benzene prices but dropped in mid-quarter because of sluggish feedstock value and weak demand in the region. Finally, prices became stagnant after increase in crude oil values in March 2022. On the other hand, in the Indian market, demand from the textile industry was less in the 1st month of Q1 but became firm after mid-quarter. Caprolactam prices were accessed at USD 2467/MT by the end of Q1, showcasing an increase by 10% from the last quarter of 2021.
Europe
Prices of Caprolactam rose continuously throughout the first quarter in the European region. The values increased by 10% from the last quarter of 2021 in the European market. Though the prices of Cyclohexanone were stable, the production cost got impacted by higher energy values in the winter months across Europe, which affected the production rates of Caprolactam. The downstream textile and electronic industry registered stable demand throughout Q1 of 2022. Caprolactam prices were accessed at USD 3030/MT on FOB basis in March 2022.
For the Quarter Ending December 2021
North America
Caprolactam market in North American region traced a conventional demand-supply pattern in Q4 of 2021 where demand deteriorated throughout the quarter in lieu of the winter holiday season. Consequently, prices declined from USD 2490 per MT in October to USD 2320 per MT in December on FOB basis. Imports from Asia-pacific (APAC) region also waned from the beginning of the quarter till the end of Q4. Freight rates have observed some rationalization in Q4, however the freight rates from Asia to America remained strong which constrained APAC exports of Caprolactam to North American region.
APAC
In India, Caprolactam market have seesawed throughout the quarter where prices fluctuated during the three months of the quarter. Festive season brought optimism across Indian textile market coupled with recently introduced Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for textile sector by Indian government. The bullish market sentiment was vindicated by increase in prices from October to November. However, market lost its steam towards the H2 of the quarter stemming from decline in demand due to traditional dip as well as emergence of another Covid variant as CFR prices declined to INR 158450 per MT in December. China market also observed similar fluctuations where market gained in H1 of the quarter however market normalized in the last month of the quarter and stabilized at USD per MT.
Europe
Rising feedstock cost and stable demand of Caprolactam resulted in gradual increase in the prices of the available material. Ammonia and benzene prices remained robust throughout the quarter owing to increase in demand and decline in production in previous months. Climbing natural gas and brent crude prices further pressured the overall cost of production and thereby impacting the final price of Caprolactam. Caprolactam prices have increased to USD 2795 per MT in December 2021 on FOB basis. Supply also remained snug throughout the quarter as falling Rhine water levels hampered barge traffic and load capacity. Consequently, operators increased barge freight costs.
For the Quarter Ending September 2021
North America
The prices of Caprolactam rose effectively during the third quarter of 2021 in the North American region. Surging raw material prices in the wake of tight inventory levels, as well as skyrocketing feedstock prices, have culminated into the reduced production levels across the region in Q3. Supply of Caprolactam has been tight during the quarter mirroring the trend of previous quarters. A hike in demand from downstream Polyamide was observed during the quarter as key sectors of development including textiles and engineering resins kept consumption numbers strong. The prices of Caprolactam were assessed around 2640-2810 per MT on FOB basis in Q3 2021.
Asia Pacific
During the third quarter of 2021, Caprolactam prices witnessed a significant rise in the Asia Pacific region backed by the increased prices of feedstock. The pricing trend traced upwards in the Chinese domestic market. In India, the prices of Caprolactam improved in the first half of Q3 under the influence of improved offtakes from the domestic market, while facing higher import charges due to soaring freight costs. Ex-Mumbai price of Caprolactam rose from USD 2205/mt to USD 2362/mt during the quarter. However, FACT announced that they will resume their caprolactam production unit again after a long gap of 7 years in the country. This restart is expected to improve the availability of Caprolactam in the country and reduce the dependency on other countries including China.
Europe
The prices of Caprolactam ramped up during Q3 due to the increased demand from textiles and engineering resins industry in the wake of economic recovery in European countries. Stagnant demand growth in automotive sector had been underwhelming for market prospects of Caprolactam as consumption volumes from the sector remained underwhelming following the trend of previous quarters. Offtakes by the Nylon chip industries were stable in Q3 2021. In Germany, FD Hamburg prices of Caprolactam experienced an uptrend by escalating from USD 2298 to USD 2400 per MT during the quarter.
For the Quarter Ending June 2021
North America
Caprolactam supplies in the North American region improved during Q2 2021, as the Gulf coast industrial infrastructure recovered from the Impact of winter storm Uri and several manufacturing units ramped up the production rates. Despite that, several buyers were observed replenishing their raw material inventories ahead of the hurricane season. Global hike in the Benzene prices amidst raised inflation rate supported the upward trend in the US Caprolactam market. However, prices stabilized in the final month of the quarter with FOB Texas offers settling at USD 2470 per tonne by the end of the second quarter.
Asia Pacific
Overall, the Asian Caprolactam prices observed an uptrend since the start of the quarter, owing to abrupt inflation in the prices of the key feedstock Benzene which pushed up the pricing trend of derivative Caprolactam throughout the region. Demand from the downstream Nylon Chip producers plunged which further curtailed the offtakes of Caprolactam while the spot market in China observed strong wait and see sentiments among the buyers. Caprolactam supplies in the region were ample to easily manage the enquiries from the downstream textile and automotive industries. Pricing trend in the Chinese market traversed upwards trajectory since mid-of Q1 and observed a growth of 10.65% with FOB Ningbo settlements assessing at USD 2315 per tonne by the ending of second quarter.
Europe
Caprolactam Supplies in the European region were balanced at the starting of the quarter, however due to the consistent offtakes and global inflation in the feedstock Benzene curtailed the production margins. Demand outlook was positive in the European region with majority of enquiries coming from the automotive sector. Offtakes by the Nylon chip industries improved as downstream industries recovered from the impact of the pandemic. Imports from the USA increased but at a slower pace as domestic players focussed on replenishment of their inventories.
For the Quarter Ending March 2021
North America
During the first quarter of 2021, supplies were constrained as several major plants declared force majeure, due to the extreme freeze weather conditions in the US gulf region led the shortage in upstream Benzene supplies. Due to the shutdown in the Gulf region the FOB Texas price surged by + USD 265/ton to USD 1950/ton. The demand is healthy as the consumption from the downstream automotive, construction and textile sector. Flaring Benzene rates further pushed up USA offers to unprecedented highs. The supply-demand widened gap surged the prices of CFR New York in March to USD 2250/ton.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
The supplies in the Asia-Pacific region were tight, as several Capro production plants were shut, followed by decline in imports from Europe. The domestic supplies also remained short due to the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays starting mid-February. However, the demand remained firm from the downstream sectors, still there is constant consumption from the Nylon Yarns and chips. Low benzene inventory levels followed by firming upstream crude surged the spot prices of Caprolactam in the APAC market. Tight supplies from Russia pushed up the regional Caprolactam offers with prices touching USD 1444/ton in March.
Europe
Caprolactam supplies were balanced to tight, in the European region during Q1 2021, as LANXESS plant with the caprolactam production capacity of 220 KTPA was on a force majeure and restarted the production in the second half of the first quarter. The demand surged as consumption from the downstream food and packaging, electronics, textiles continued to be steady. Due to the less consumption from the automotive sector, buyers remained opportunistic to restock their inventories. The prices in Germany were raised by USD 510/ton taking the quarterly average to USD 2250/ton.
For the Quarter Ending September 2020
Asia
The Caprolactam supply in various Asian countries, majorly northeast Asia have declined in Q3 due to plant shutdowns and reduced run rates maintained to balance out the inventory levels. Producers were heard operating their manufacturing plants at curtailed rates, at around 75% in economies such as China & Taiwan. Also due to the reduction in demand from the downstream nylon markets-the major demand driving segment for Caprolactam, there was a consistent pressure over the profit margins of various Capro producers. Additionally, lesser international trade was observed following weaker demand in the region pressuring prices across the Indian subcontinent to around USD 1180 per tonne in September.
North America
The Caprolactam supply in the region remained disturbed caused by disruptions in the producer’s plant operations in second and the third quarter as a combined of COVID-19 disruptions and outages caused by Hurricane Laura. Tightened supply and a sharp increase in demand for Nylon 6 fibers across the US and other regions to produce carpets, seat belts, ropes etc. kept the offers raised beyond expectations. Regional prices have shown an uptrend due to rise in the raw material Benzene which is tracing strong gains in the crude futures since the start August.
Europe
Demand for Caprolactam across the European countries revived in Q3 with better offtakes heard across the Nylon 6 consuming sectors compared to Q2. Sentiments took a leap with surge in DIY activities as people spent more on home renovations amid lockdown restrictions. Also, the market regained momentum buoyed by the sharp pick-up in the automotive industry with the demand still longing to reach to pre-COVID levels.
