[caprolactam] : raw material prices continue to climb, caprolactam cost rose substantially

Coal market continues to rise strongly in the near future, caprolactam enterprise power costs surge. At the beginning of 2021, the price of Q5500 blended coal is basically 800-1000 CNY/ton. At present, the price of Q5500 blended coal rises to 2,300-2400 CNY/ton and above, and the power cost of caprolactam doubles.

China pure Benzene price trend

Caprolactam main raw materials are pure benzene (part of the external use of cyclohexanone), Ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid and so on. Since 2021, market prices of various raw and auxiliary materials have continued to rise, and coal prices have continued to rise, resulting in a significant increase in the overall cost of caprolactam.

According to statistics, at the beginning of 2021, the price of pure benzene east China is 4440 CNY/ton cash self-withdrawing, the price of synthetic ammonia in Jiangsu is 3007 CNY/ton acceptance, the price of 35% hydrogen peroxide in East China is 1900 CNY/ton, and the price of 105% sulfonic acid in Zhejiang is 510 CNY/ton; By October 18, 2021, the price of pure benzene in East China has risen to 8,500 CNY/ton, synthetic ammonia to 5,000 CNY/ton, hydrogen peroxide to 2,350 CNY/ton, sulfuric acid to 7,000 CNY/ton, with price increases of 91.44%, 66.28%, 23.68% and 86.27%, respectively, compared with the beginning of the year.

China caprolactam price trend

The spot price of caprolactam at the beginning of 2021 is 11300 CNY/ton, and the price is 16100-16300 CNY/ton on October 18, 2021, up 4900 CNY/ton from the beginning of the year, or 43.36%.

Traditional caprolactam production costs in accordance with the benzene has sent to near 6000 CNY/ton (do not include ammonium sulfate), the main production costs for raw materials cost and power cost, if according to the latest price of raw materials and thermal coal prices, caprolactam part of enterprise production costs climbed to 8000 CNY/ton and above (not containing ammonium sulfate subsidies).

According to statistics, at present caprolactam and pure benzene price difference of 7700 CNY/ton, due to the rise in production costs, caprolactam part of the enterprise has a loss situation. Caprolactam enterprises due to different raw and auxiliary materials supporting conditions, the specific cost of production varies greatly, but with the cost rise, only a small part of enterprises with perfect supporting can maintain a small profit, factories with more external raw materials have suffered losses, the production enthusiasm of caprolactam enterprises may decline in the later period.