Published October 2023
Caprolactam, produced primarily from cyclohexane, is consumed in the production of nylon 6 fibers and nylon 6 engineering resins and films. More than half of world caprolactam consumption is for nylon 6 fibers and around a quarter is for nylon 6 resins and films; the remainder is accounted for by trade in nylon 6 polymer chip. Nylon 6 fibers are used in the textile, carpet and industrial yarn industries. Nylon resins are used as engineering plastics, with applications in the automotive industry, specialty film packaging for food, and wire and cabling. The gradual shifts in nylon 6 textile fiber production to Asia, followed by development in automobile, plastics and electronics manufacturing away from more industrialized regions, have all contributed to historical growth for caprolactam and nylon 6 in Asia, and mainland Chinese nylon fiber and resin production continues to expand rapidly. In 2022, mainland China accounted for more than half of the global consumption of caprolactam and will continue to drive world consumption during 2022–27.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of caprolactam:
For more detailed information, see the table of contents, shown below.
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