CMAI Completes 2010 World Nylon Feedstocks & Fibers Analysis

HOUSTON, May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI) announces the completion of the 2010 World Nylon Feedstocks & Fibers Analysis, an annual global study that covers past and future developments in supply, demand, production, capacity, trade, pricing and profitability for the period 2004 to 2014. This analysis covers the nylon feedstocks (cyclohexane, caprolactam, adipic acid and HMDA) and nylon fibers (carpet, textile and industrial). Included with each analysis is 12 months of access to CMAI's online capacity and supply/demand databases, with a mid-term supply/demand update, incorporating the latest economic and market outlook. New for 2010 editions is access to the key graphics contained in the Analysis in both Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. The Analysis is a necessary resource for business managers and planning professionals, who need to make strategic business decisions in a rapidly changing global economic and market environment.

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Current Market Situation

The worldwide economic downturn had a dramatic impact on demand in global markets for nylon intermediates, resins and fibers. Across the board, operating rates fell sharply from the fourth quarter 2008 and remained weak through early 2009. Ongoing industry restructuring accelerated, and rationalization of nylon intermediates and fibers assets ensued. By mid 2009, assisted by government stimulus measures and slow improvement in the worldwide economic situation, nylon intermediates, resin and fiber demand began to recover and strengthened throughout the remainder of the year. Restocking of depleted inventories, combined with improvements in final consumer demand, set the stage for increasing demand for nylon fiber chip and filament, driving worldwide production rates higher during the first half of 2010. China continues to add capacity for caprolactam, adipic acid, nylon resin and filament to meet its fast growing domestic demand, furthering the shift in global production towards Asia.

Rising and volatile raw material costs continue to plague nylon producers and impact their economics. The widening price gap between nylon and other polymers with which it competes, especially polyester, remains a threat and will limit growth opportunities. Nylon will be relegated to only those applications that require its unique high performance properties.

Market Outlook

The outlook for the balance of 2010 and beyond is for continual improvement along the value chain, assuming that the ongoing economic recovery in major markets does not stumble. Nylon 6 is forecast to grow at an annual average rate of 3-4 percent until 2014. Nylon 6,6 demand will grow at a more rapid rate; however, this is due more to how far demand fell in 2009 than a measure of organic growth throughout the forecast period. Demand for nylon in engineering thermoplastics and film applications will show the greatest growth, while a modest recovery in the large nylon carpet fiber markets in Europe and the U.S. are forecast as the housing industry improves. Growth in textile and industrial filament will be concentrated in Asia in specialized applications requiring nylon's high performance properties. The potential for nylon demand destruction remains a constant threat if price gaps between competing materials widen and are sustained for a period sufficient to justify the cost of transition.

To find out more about the current market issues and CMAI's outlook for the nylon feedstocks & fibers industry, order this analysis now at www.cmaiglobal.com. The analysis is available in electronic format along with access to CMAI's Online Capacity and Supply/Demand databases on CMAI'S website. With updates to the Capacity database as changes in the marketplace occur, and an annual mid-year update to the Supply/Demand database, clients can rely on these databases as a necessary tool for their strategic business decisions.

CMAI is the premier provider of Market, Planning and Business Advisory Services offering a unique combination of consulting analytics and expertise for the global chemical, plastics, fibers and chlor-alkali industries. With offices in Houston, New York, London, Dubai, Dusseldorf, Singapore and Shanghai, CMAI has provided expert business advisory services to a broad base of companies across multiple value chains and geographies since 1979. Clients of CMAI services include chemical and oil companies, technology & EPC companies, banking and financial institutions, consumer product companies, textile & apparel manufacturers, brand-owners, grocers/retailers, government agencies and trading companies.

For more information on the 2010 World Nylon Feedstocks & Fibers Analysis visit CMAI's website at

www.cmaiglobal.com or contact:

SOURCE Chemical Market Associates, Inc.