Caprolactam: Feedstocks
Benzene, ammonia and sulphur, and the fertiliser credit
What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.Caprolactam combines aromatics (benzene or phenol), nitrogen (ammonia) and sulphur (oleum). Benzene is the main cost. The ammonium sulphate credit matters: when fertiliser prices are high, by-product revenue cushions margins, and when they fall, conventional plants suffer most. Coal-based Chinese groups with captive benzene, hydrogen and ammonia are lowest cost.
Inputs per tonne
| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Crude oil | about 0.9 t benzene per t (indicative) | carbon ring | about 55-65% of cash cost (indicative) | indicative |
| Kc Coking coal | indirect | benzene source for coke-chemical groups such as China Risun | included above | indicative |
| Gas Natural gas | about 0.15-1 t ammonia per t depending on route (indicative) | nitrogen source and hydrogen | about 10-15% (indicative) | indicative |
| S Sulfur | about 0.4-1.2 t sulphuric acid equivalent per t (indicative) | Beckmann rearrangement | about 5% (indicative) | indicative |
| Hydrogen peroxide | about 0.3-0.35 t (100%) in ammoximation (indicative) | oxidant | about 5-8% (indicative) | indicative |
Who is low-cost, and why
Chinese ammoximation plants integrated with benzene, hydrogen and ammonia, often coal-based, are lowest cost. Older European, Japanese and Indian plants with Raschig routes are higher cost and depend on ammonium sulphate credits.
Raw materials on the commodity table
Oil Crude oilS SulfurWhat it is made into
| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| PA Nylon (PA6, PA66) | essentially all caprolactam |
| AS Ammonium sulphate | co-product, about 1.3-4.4 t per t |