Caprolactam is a monomer intermediate used for the production of polyamide 6; consumption is driven primarily by the polyamide fiber and polymer markets. Caprolactam is produced primarily from cyclohexane. It is also produced from cyclohexene, a route that has become much more common in recent years. Phenol is a lesser-used commercial route. In 2024, caprolactam production accounted for about 35% of cyclohexane demand. Almost all caprolactam is used to make polyamide 6 fibers and plastics.

Executive summary 5

Introduction 6

Industry trackers 9

World summary 11

Capacity 11

World capacity by region 11

Leading world producers 11

Production processes 12

Conventional process 14

BASF process 15

DSM/HPO (Stamicarbon) process 15

PNC process 16

Enichem/Sumitomo process 16

SNIA Viscosa process 17

BASF/DuPont process 17

Inventa-NO reduction process 17

Altam 18

Polyamide 6 recycling 18

One-step caprolactam 18

Demand drivers 18

Supply and demand 20

Trade 22

Environmental issues 22

Supply and demand by region 24

North America 24

Capacity 24

Demand drivers 24

Supply and demand 26

Trade 28

Latin America and the Caribbean 28

Capacity 28

Demand drivers 28

Supply and demand 30

Trade 32

Europe 32

Capacity 32

Demand drivers 33

Supply and demand 35

Trade 36

Eurasia 36

Capacity 36

Demand drivers 37

Supply and demand 38

Trade 40

Middle East 40

Capacity 40

Demand drivers 41

Supply and demand 42

Trade 43

Africa 44

Capacity 44

Demand drivers 44

Supply and demand 46

Trade 46

Southern Asia 47

Capacity 47

Demand drivers 47

Supply and demand 48

Trade 50

Eastern Asia 50

Mainland China 50

Capacity 50

Demand drivers 51

Supply and demand 52

Trade 54

Eastern Asia (ex-mainland China) 54

Capacity 54

Demand drivers 56

Supply and demand 57

Trade 59

South-eastern Asia and Oceania 59

Capacity 59

Demand drivers 60

Supply and demand 61

Trade 63

Appendix — Geographic regions 64

Additional resources 65

Revisions 66

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