Nylon Market - Forecasts from 2024 to 2029

The nylon market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.35% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Nylon plastic is also known as Polyamide (PA). It is a common material used in consumer goods, automotive, electronics, textiles, and many more. There are different types of nylon, such as Nylon 6/12 (PA 6/12), Nylon 6/6, Nylon 6, Nylon 11, etc. All of these materials have the common characteristics of durability and versatility and have high tensile strength and fatigue resistance. A major application of nylon comes from the textile industry, which has been used in manufacturing shirts, foundation garments, lingerie, raincoats, swimwear, underwear, and cycling wear, among others.

Further, nylon is used in multiple industries, such as agriculture, construction, food processing, marine, material handling, oil and gas, sawmill, and wastewater industries, where various equipment parts are made. Nylon's durability, lightweight nature, and resistance to chemicals make it easy to use in machine parts. Furthermore, the automobile industry's expansion keeps the demand for nylon high and uses it for various purposes in automobile body parts.

• In the United States, the import of automotive vehicles, parts, and engines increased to 9.48% in the financial year 2023-24 from 2022-23. The imports were US$ 161,798 million in 2023-24. This number indicates the growing consumption of automotive equipment parts in the country.
• Developing economies have a greater demand for nylon in their market. For instance, India is the second-largest producer of textiles and garments. In 2023, the Indian textiles and apparel industry held 4% of the global trade in textiles and apparel. This indicates that the consumption of the raw materials required for textiles and apparel will be on the rise in these economies.

NYLON MARKET DRIVERS:

• Increasing demand in Automotive Sector

The national green policies, competitive pricing, and changes in the general perception of people are creating market demand for electric vehicles for the automotive sector globally. Further, the burgeoning automobile sector has created a demand not only for vehicles but also for related parts and pieces of equipment. The automobile industry uses nylon-based materials for both exterior and interior purposes. The applications included electrical wiring, central electrical boards, tracking headlights, headlight regulators, and lamp housings. Further, nylon engineering plastics are applied to the engine covers, engine water tank covers, fans, etc.

Moreover, according to the data from the International Energy Agency, electric vehicle sales in Europe have seen an increase of 17.39% from 2021 to 2022 and an 18.52% increase from 2022 to 2023. In Norway, the sales of electric cars have reached 93% of the total car share. These figures indicate the importance of automotive vehicles and their related parts and equipment. Manufacturers of automobiles are increasingly becoming concerned about the material's recyclability for sustainable benefits. Manufacturers are concerned about the material recyclability of end-of-life vehicles.

• Rise in application for the fashion industry

Nylon is a widely used material in the fashion industry. It has multiple benefits, such as can be blended into diverse designs from simple to sophisticated. It is durable, light, dry, and easy to shape, and can be used in the wider application of clothes, dresses, socks, raincoats, sportswear, swimwear, etc. One of the prominent brands is Prada, having a multitude of products made from Nylon. Miuccia Prada's introduction of nylon through Prada's accessories gave the material its place in the fashion industry.

Nylon has color-adhering properties, which make the dyeing process quick and easy. Nylon fabrics are extremely useful because the color level is extremely standard. Additionally, economic efficiency plays an important role in the manufacturer's choice of nylon as a garment material.

• Myriad Applications of Nylon in different industries

Nylon is applied in many different industries, causing a high demand for the material. The food and packaging industry has a major demand for nylon material because of its toughness, low gas permeability, and temperature resistance. The food material that is easy to get spoils when it comes in contact with the air. Nylon-MXD6 is used for moisture-proof packaging as pellets with a moisture content of less than 0.1% by the manufacturers.

Further, the usage of nylon in the construction industry is widely applicable and expanding. It is used in the manufacturing of sheets, tubes, pipes, screws, bolts, safety nets, plumbing fittings, and more. In addition, custom-cast nylon is used for the crane parts, among others.

• Asia Pacific region to dominate the nylon market during the forecast period.

The major economies like China, Japan, India, and South Korea dominate the Asia-Pacific region. Some of the fastest-growing emerging economies are from this region, such as ASEAN countries. India and China remain the world's largest growing economies, these countries demand huge raw materials for fast and sustainable growth. The Indian passenger car market is expected to reach a value of US$ 54.84 billion by 2027, according to IBEF (India Brand Equity Foundation). With the growing demand, several automakers are making heavy investments in various segments of the industry. Nylon is critical in the automotive industry for making safety bags in cars, further, they are used in the manufacturing of engines, cylinder head covers, engine decorative covers, engine covers, engine water tank covers, and fans, among others.

The automobile industry's growth, especially the demand for electric vehicles in China, would create a subsequent demand for nylon applications in the industry. Further, rising disposable income within the region would cause an increased demand for sports activities, especially adventure sports such as paragliding, ropes for climbing, surfing, etc. This would lead to the demand for nylon in the market.

Nylon Market Restraints:

• Environmental Concerns pose serious challenges to the nylon market and its growing applications. The biodegradability and microfibre shedding of the material are concerns for regular usage. As more companies move towards sustainable materials, the demand for virgin nylon may be restricted.
• Additionally, nylon is not fire-resistant; it easily melts, which could be a serious disadvantage during hot tropical summers. Ironing can damage it, making it unsuitable for many situations and environments.

Nylon Market Key Developments:

• In January 2024, OBASF and Inditex discovered a method for textile-to-textile recycling with loopamid, the first circular nylon 6 entirely based on textile waste. Loopamid is made from polyamide through a recycling process from discarded textiles into new, virgin-quality synthetic fibers and materials. Additionally, Zara launched a jacket made only from loopamid. It is made from the "design for recycling" approach, in that all parts, including fabrics, buttons, filling, hook and loop, and zipper, are made from loop amid. Polyamide 6, is known as nylon 6, a synthetic polymer for various applications due to its properties.
• In February 2023, Orion Engineered Carbons, LG Chem, and CJ CheilJedang joined hands for the commercialization of Bio-Nylon. LG Chem established a joint venture for the production and sales of bio-nylon. This is to produce everything from raw materials to products. Bio-nylon is applied in the automotive, electronic devices, and textiles sectors. The development is helpful by the global environmental policies and the mandatory disclosure of carbon emissions, i.e., Scope 3 for eco-friendly products. Further, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluations are a major driving factor for the steady increase in customers seeking bio-nylon.
• In March 2023, Genomatica and Asahi Kasei partnered for the renewably sourced Nylon 6,6. Genomatica, based in the United States, and Asahi Kasei, a Japan-based diversified global manufacturer, announced a strategic partnership for the commercialization of the renewable sourced nylon 6,6. This can be used for the automotive and electronics industries. It is made from the based on plant-based HMD, to achieve corporate sustainability objectives. Renewably sourced HMD by Genomatica is made from renewable feedstocks, such as plant-based sugars. This improves the sustainability of the many materials made from the HMD.
• In February 2022, ITOCHU Corporation announced the market deployment of environmentally friendly zippers and buttons made of recycled nylon. ITOCHU Corporation, YKK Italy S.p.A., and Aquafil S.p.A. are jointly developing environmentally friendly recycled zippers and recycled buttons made of ECONYL(R) nylon manufactured by Aquafil. The sale would begin in the European fashion brand markets from March 2022. These three companies, come together to develop zippers, buttons, and other subcomponents used in fashion products. This is made with the ECONYL(R) nylon as the raw material and will launch NATULON made with ECONYL and launched as YKK's environment friendly line.

The Nylon market is segmented and analyzed as follows:

By Type

• Nylon 6
• Nylon 6,6
• Others

By End-User Industry

• Textiles
• Automotive
• Electricals and Electronics
• Other Applications

By Geography

• North America
• USA
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of South America
• Europe
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Rest of the Middle East and Africa
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Rest of Asia-Pacific