PA6

Celanese announces closure of PA66 units. Celanese, in its third-quarter 2023 earnings report, announced the shutdown of its PA66 unit in Uentrop, Germany.

The PA66 unit reportedly has a capacity of around 120,000 metric tonnes per year.

The company has decided to close the unit due to the high costs of polymerization, influenced by regional energy and material prices.

Celanese plans to halt operations at the PA66 unit by January 1, 2024.

Additionally, the press release mentions that Celanese has ceased production at Engineered Materials facilities in Campo Bom, Brazil; Berazategui, Argentina; and Wehr, Germany.

PA6 and PA66 markets grapple with weak demand. In April, the European polyamide 6 (PA6) and polyamide 66 (PA66) markets faced downward pressure on prices.

The current developments can be attributed mainly to persistent weak demand and an increasingly oversupplied market.

Trade dynamics and a challenging outlook further complicate the situation for these materials.

Furthermore, weak demand in China and the strengthening of the Euro add to the negative impact on trade in the European market.

PA6 prices have declined more significantly than PA66 prices. The PA6 market is struggling with overcapacity, increased competition from imports, and the ability for buyers to switch suppliers.

There have been some positive developments in specific market segments. For example, automotive industry experienced an increase in sales. However, this growth may not be sufficient to reverse the current downward trend in prices.

DOMO Chemicals expands presence in China. has announced the groundbreaking for its new plant in Haiyan, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China.

The new plant will produce TECHNYL® polyamide-based grades and is expected to be in full operation by the end of Q1 2024.

It represents a €14 million (100 million RMB) investment by DOMO Chemicals and covers an area of 40,000 square meters.

The ceremony took place on 15 March and was attended by company officials and government representatives.

The new plant will gradually be expanded to reach a total capacity of 50 kilotons and will play a key role in DOMO Chemicals’ strategy to expand its presence in the Asian market.

The new plant will also contribute to the development of the local economy, bringing job opportunities and meeting the highest standards of environmental protection.

PA6 prices plunge in March, taking a steeper than expected dip due to tough market conditions and weak demand from most segments.

The GC Intelligence price assessments show ongoing price decreases for both PA6 and PA66 in Europe.

The market remains well supplied, especially for PA6, despite reduced production. There is little hope for a recovery in the near term, especially during the first half of the year.

While some recent data shows positive numbers, such as construction, industrial, and consumer confidence, some of these figures can be misleading.

For example, the automotive sector shows ongoing increases in sales from last year, but this is primarily due to overcoming previous challenges, like semiconductor shortages, rather than an indication of robust demand. Overall, demand remains sluggish.

Polyamides (PA) EU exports plummet while imports surge in January 2023, according to the latest data from Eurostat.

The EU27 saw a sharp decline in exports, which amounted to a total value of 21,047 metric tonnes. This indicates a staggering 50% decrease as compared to the same period last year.

In contrast, imports to the EU27 surged by almost 50%, with a total value of 30,359 metric tonnes.

Recent spikes in gas prices have likely led to decreased competitiveness for Europe’s products, resulting in lower exports and increased imports.

Lower exports and higher imports are currently exacerbating the oversupply in Europe, which is placing more pressure on prices.

PA6 and PA66 are two common types of polyamides. PA6, also known as nylon 6, is a polymer made from the monomer caprolactam, while PA66, also known as nylon 66, is made from the monomers hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid.