nylon 6 Demand Analysis

Nylon 6 Supply Dynamics @ A Glance

There is a gradual increase expected in global demand for Nylon 6 by volume, with the compound annual growth rate of 5.1% for the years 2024- 2034. The Nylon 6 consumption is expected to be fuelled by the automotive industry, textile and followed by electrical & electronics. Nylon 6 is being used to replace metal in automobile applications, which lightens the vehicle weight and therefore promotes fuel consumption efficiency. Products such as gears, engine cover and air intake manifold are traditionally produced from Nylon 6.

 

Automotive
Textile
Others
Electricals & Electronics
Construction

Nylon 6 End-Use Industry Share, by Volume

Automotive Industry

Demand Drivers:

  • The automotive industry is shifting to lightweight materials to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Components like gears, engine covers, and air intake manifolds are commonly made from Nylon 6. Its high resistivity to heat, tensile strength, and wear resistance makes it ideal for demanding automotive applications.
  • The rapid growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market is a significant driver for Nylon 6 demand. Nylon 6’s exceptional thermal stability and electrical insulation properties make it a preferred material for battery casings and covers. It prevents overheating and ensures the safety of lithium-ion batteries. Its resistance to chemicals like electrolytes used in batteries adds to its suitability.

Growth Forecast:

  • The demand of nylon 6 in automotive sector is expected to register high growth, with an estimated 42% share in terms of volume, of automotive industry in demand of nylon 6 in 2024. The automotive industry is moving to lightweighting to increase mileage and decrease emissions. Nylon 6 is used to manufacture parts that are semipermanent such as gears, engine covers, and air intake manifolds. The fact that it possesses the high tensile strength, heat resistance, and wear resistance makes it suitable for many vigorous automobile applications.
  • The rapid growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market is a significant driver for Nylon 6 demand. The best characteristic of Nylon 6 includes its high thermal stability, electrically non-conductive principle, and these attributes makes Nylon 6 desirable for use in the battery casings and covers. It protects it from overheating and is also good for safety of lithium-ion batteries. Ensuring it has a low degree of flammable, the material also has drawbacks, chemical resistance including that to electrolytes used in batteries.

Textile Industry

Demand Drivers:

  • The increased trend in functional apparel fabrics especially where Nylon 6 is dominantly used such as, sportswear apparel, outdoor garments and industrial textiles has also attributed close market propensity between Nylon 6 and the global market. It has high elongation, outstanding wicking capacity and good abrasion, which makes it suitable for these uses.
  • Nylon 6 is preferentially used in technical fashion items and expensive clothes as it can be made beautiful in appearance and is easy to dye bright colour. Its compatibility with the current trend in modern fashion design also supplements its requirements in textile fashion.
  • Nylon 6 is a key material for industrial textiles, such as conveyor belts, parachutes, and airbags, due to its high tensile strength and resistance to wear and tear. The growth of these application across different sectors is also playing the role of demand.

Growth Forecast:

  • The textile sector will absorb most of the Nylon 6 at an estimation of about 25% of total Nylon 6 consumptions in 2024. This demand will be complemented by the progress of elasticity and comfort especially in such segments as activated wear, lingerie and yoga wear.
  • Innovations in the production of Nylon 6, including microfilament technology, have enhanced the quality and uses of textiles in consumer and industrial goods.

Electricals & Electronics Industry

Demand Drivers:

  • Due to its high electrical portability and thermal stability, nylon 6 is widely used for cable sheathing, automotive wiring harness, and electronic printed circuit board support applications. All these characteristics are important in that they help to determine the safety and reliability of electrical systems.
  • The categories such as smartphones, laptops, wearable products, among others, have remained key drivers to the surging Nylon 6 market. This material is predominantly applied to connectors’ outer and inner shields and other internal parts owing to its high mechanical resistance.

Growth Forecast:

  • Based on analysis, in 2024, electrical & electronics account for about 11% share in terms of volume in the global Nylon 6 consumption and will have moderate growth from 2024 to 2034. As the devices become ever more compact, the possibilities offered by Nylon 6, in terms of mouldability and low density, allow for elaborate and compact parts. This makes it an important material in contemporary electronics design.
  • Consumer awareness of environment friendly products has gained significant importance in electronics and electrical industry, thus increasing the market for recycled and bio-based Nylon 6. This corresponds with the current vision of most manufacturers to minimize their carbon footprints while at the same time improving the sustainability of their products.

Construction Industry

Demand Drivers:

  • Urbanization and Infrastructure Development: Growing infrastructure requirements, especially in the emerging countries, create the need for Nylon 6 in construction application. Nylon 6 is used in cable ties, insulation and mechanical applications due to the flexibility of this material as well as its mechanical characteristics.  
  • Nylon 6 is gradually used more commonly as the material for insulation products of buildings, especially in case where the building must meet thermal and acoustic specification. Due to its heat resistance and light weight, the material has been included in enhancing energy efficient construction.
  • Advancements in Polymer Technology: Some advancement in Nylon 6 has brought improvements in construction material applications of Nylon 6. New grades with increased UV stability and fire resistance are now applied for external uses such as cladding, roofing and shading structures.

Growth Forecast:

  • The usage in construction sectors is estimated to be about 8% in terms of volume, of the total demand for nylon 6 in 2024. Due to non-slip characteristics and easy processing of Nylon 6, these boards can be used in custom construction components, brackets, joints and fittings for revolution in architectural designs.
  • In construction for instance, parts of materials that will frequently come into contact with environmental conditions call for high corrosion resistances. Some of these applications include in humid environment or in situation that exposes the material to chemicals since nylon 6 offer good resistance to these conditions.

Why price-watch?

Price-watch enables organisations to predict identified trends, manage constant changes in prices, improve supply chain, and especially take advantages of new markets in developing economies. In the Fibers industry, which could arguably be considered as one of the most competitive industries out there, being able to pull Nylon 6 demand in real-time means that players in the industry can quickly and accurately gauge changes in demand and proactively make changes to their strategies to continue with their competitiveness.

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