Nylon ends 2010 on a high note, with price increases from BASF, DSM, and Honeywell

As 2010 comes to a close, a number of suppliers and manufacturers of polyamide (PA) or nylon resins have announced price increases, with DSM and Honeywell citing strong global demand and pricing for key ingredient caprolactam, while BASF pinned the increase on a less-specific "increase in raw material prices."

On Dec. 17, Honeywell (Morris Township, NJ) announced that it would increase prices on its nylon 6 material by $0.10/lb, effective Jan. 10, 2011, or as contracts allow. Peter Dalpe, director of external communications, Honeywell, told PlasticsToday that the $0.10/lb increase is approximately equivalent to a 7% boost in the resin's price.

Honeywell also announced that it would shift from monthly formula pricing to global pricing in North America for molten caprolactam as of Jan. 1, 2011. "[Honeywell] is doing this because the market for caprolactam has become very global and our price needs to reflect that in all regions," Dalpe said. "Following global price is a clearer and more consistent price strategy."

DSM Engineering Plastics announced Dec. 21 that it would increase prices in North America for its Novamid copolymer nylon resins by $0.12/lb, effective Jan. 1. Novamid sees use in extrusion and monofilament applications, and DSM said the move was a result of "recent increases in the cost of key raw materials, especially caprolactam."

DSM Engineering Plastics also announced a $0.12/lb increase in North American prices for its Akulon PA6 polymer that's use in fibers, extrusion, and compounding. That announcement came on Dec. 20, with the increase set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2011.

BASF announced price increase for PA 6 and 6,66 in North America on Dec. 15, raising the cost by $0.10/lb effective Jan. 3, 2011. The company said the increase covers nylon for spinning, monofilament, film, and wire and cable, as well as neat resin for compounding. BASF rationale was "current market conditions and increasing raw material costs."

Caprolactam, which is a lactam or a cyclic amide of caproic acid, is mostly synthesized from cyclohexanone, the great majority of which is used in the production of nylon. —Tony Deligio