Caprolactam: Production
How China came to hold almost two-thirds of capacity
What this tab covers Who makes it and how much: world capacity and output, utilisation, the top producing countries and companies globally and in India, concentration, new capacity coming, and each region's position.| Measure | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| World capacity | 9.9 Mt/yr (2024) | Chemical Week, Dec 2025 | |
| World output | about 7 Mt (2024, indicative) | indicative | |
| Capacity utilisation | about 70% (indicative) | Chinese producers agreed on 5 November 2025 to cut output 20% across the board (Chemical Week). European producers ran at low rates under import pressure (Resourcewise headline, 2026). | Chemical Week, Dec 2025 |
| Concentration | China 63%; Highsun 1.2 Mt/yr and China Risun 0.75 Mt/yr are about 20% of world capacity together | Other producers include BASF, AdvanSix, UBE, Grodno Azot, Sinopec and Luxi Chemical (indicative). | Chemical Week, Dec 2025 |
| New capacity | China additions slowing after a surge; Europe closing | Chinese producers agreed a 20% cut in November 2025 rather than new expansion (Chemical Week). In Europe Fibrant is exiting caprolactam and Domo filed for insolvency in Germany (S&P Global). | Chemical Week, Dec 2025; S&P Global H1 2026 |
Top producing countries
China 63% · about 6.2 Mt/yr (derived: 63% of 9.9 Mt) Western Europe 10% · shrinking; Fibrant Geleen stopping caprolactam, Domo insolvent (S&P Global) Russia and Belarus 6% · not published in sources reached United States 5% · not published in sources reached (AdvanSix Hopewell main site) Japan and Taiwan 6% · not published in sources reached India 1% · 120 kt/yr capacity, 87 kt output (2017, latest official series) Chemical Week, Dec 2025; S&P Global, H1 2026; share indicative; indicative; DCPC via CEIC (2017)Largest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highsun Holding Group largest producer | China | 1.2 Mt/yr caprolactam capacity | 2025 | Chemical Week, Dec 2025 |
| China Risun Group coke-based chemicals group | China | 0.75 Mt/yr | 2025 | Chemical Week, Dec 2025 |
| BASF Ludwigshafen and Antwerp; not published in sources reached | Germany | not published | 2025 | indicative |
| AdvanSix Hopewell, Virginia; large ammonium sulphate seller; not published in sources reached | US | not published | 2025 | indicative |
| Fibrant stopping caprolactam at Geleen, which used about 120 kt/yr of phenol | Netherlands | not published | 2025 | S&P Global, H1 2026 |
| Sinopec ammoximation technology owner; not published | China | not published | 2025 | indicative |
Largest producers: India
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals (GSFC) the primary domestic producer; capacity not given in source; Vadodara | India | not published | 2026 | Indian Chemical News, Oct 2026 |
India had 120 kt/yr of caprolactam capacity and produced 87 kt in 2017 (DCPC via CEIC), essentially all GSFC. Nylon 6 spinners and compounders import the balance. GSFC's anti-dumping petition says imports rose sharply while domestic demand fell (Indian Chemical News, Oct 2026).
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | AdvanSix is integrated from cumene and phenol to nylon and ammonium sulphate; US exporters are named in India's investigation. |
| EU | Closures (Fibrant Geleen, Domo insolvency) under import pressure. |
| India | One producer (GSFC); import-dependent nylon 6 chain; anti-dumping investigation from October 2026. |
| China | 63% of world capacity; coordinated 20% output cut in November 2025. |
| Japan | UBE is the main producer; mature. |
| Middle East | No significant production; Gulf ammonia and sulphur are inputs elsewhere. |