China has high dependence on caprolactam (CPL) imports and was to the extent of 56.3 percent of consumption in 2010.
Current spot market price of CPL imports is firm around US $3050 / ton (CFR China main port L/C 90 days).
This has also prompted domestic producers to increase their ex-factory price of caprolactam.
Nanjing Orient has increased its CPL ex-factory price by 50 Yuan to 23,550 Yuan / ton and Sinopec has listed price its February CPL contract price at 23,800 Yuan / ton.
It is expected that China's caprolactam demand will grow by 12.5 percent on average per year during the "12th Five-Year Plan" period.
This will increase China's dependence on caprolactam imports over the next few years.