US DuPont seeks 7% increase on global nylon 6,6 prices

HOUSTON (ICIS)–DuPont Performance Polymers is targeting a global price increase of 7% on its nylon 6,6 (PA66) polymers, effective 1 July or as contracts allow, the US-based producer announced on Wednesday.

Citing escalating raw material costs, DuPont intends to raise prices for its Zytel PA66 polymers, as well as its unreinforced PA66 grades.

“DuPont continuously strives to offset escalating costs with productivity programmes to help ensure sustainable global supply and new product innovation,” the company said in a news release. “But the magnitude of the recent cost increases makes these price adjustments unavoidable.”

US nylon 6,6 distributors and buyers said that they saw no reason for the increase, especially since feedstocks had been on a downtrend.

June contract prices for upstream benzene fell for the fourth consecutive month, while US June contract prices for feedstock butadiene slipped after three straight months of stable pricing.

Additionally, no other producers had announced intentions of raising prices.

Still, sources said that there was a possibility that DuPont would have success with its price increase initiative.

“DuPont marches to their own drum and does what they want; they always have,” a buyer said.

One distributor said that DuPont is a leader in the market and tends to set the trend.

Another distributor thought that the market was tight enough for DuPont to raise prices.

Currently, the ICIS-assessed domestic price for US nylon 6,6 injection moulding grade in bulk is at $1.55-1.65/lb ($3,417-3,638/tonne).

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