# Caprolactam: Feedstocks

Benzene, ammonia and sulphur, and the fertiliser credit

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/feedstocks/

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](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/) | about 0.9 t benzene per t (indicative) | carbon ring | about 55-65% of cash cost (indicative) | indicative |
| [Kc Coking coal](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/coking_coal/) | indirect | benzene source for coke-chemical groups such as China Risun | included above | indicative |
| [Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/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](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/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 oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/)[S Sulfur](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/sulfur/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [PA Nylon (PA6, PA66)](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/nylon/) | essentially all caprolactam |
| [AS Ammonium sulphate](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/) | co-product, about 1.3-4.4 t per t |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/links/index.md)