# Caprolactam: Production

How China came to hold almost two-thirds of capacity

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

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](https://chemweek.mydigitalpublication.com/articles/china-s-caprolactam-producers-agree-to-production-cut) |
| **China Risun Group** coke-based chemicals group | China | 0.75 Mt/yr | 2025 | [Chemical Week, Dec 2025](https://chemweek.mydigitalpublication.com/articles/china-s-caprolactam-producers-agree-to-production-cut) |
| **BASF** Ludwigshafen and Antwerp; not published in sources reached | Germany | not published | 2025 | [indicative](https://www.basf.com) |
| **AdvanSix** Hopewell, Virginia; large ammonium sulphate seller; not published in sources reached | US | not published | 2025 | [indicative](https://www.advansix.com) |
| **Fibrant** stopping caprolactam at Geleen, which used about 120 kt/yr of phenol | Netherlands | not published | 2025 | [S&P Global, H1 2026](https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/special-reports/chemicals/chemical-trends-h1-2026/rationalisation/phenol-acetone) |
| **Sinopec** ammoximation technology owner; not published | China | not published | 2025 | [indicative](http://www.sinopec.com) |

#### 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](https://www.indianchemicalnews.com/regulatory/india-launches-anti-dumping-investigation-into-caprolactam-imports-from-china-russia-thailand-and-us-32225) |

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. |

## 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)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/feedstocks/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)