In early March 2025, Polyamide markets in China and the U.S. exhibited contrasting trends, shaped by regional demand-supply imbalances, macroeconomic conditions, and raw material fluctuations. While China grappled with subdued downstream consumption and cautious producer strategies, the U.S. maintained stability amid steady automotive demand and proactive inventory management. These dynamics underscore the interplay of industrial recovery, trade policies, and sector-specific headwinds influencing global Polyamide pricing.

The Polyamide market was under pressure in early March in China, due to muted downstream demand and lingering oversupply. On the supply side, Polyamide production remains steady. Raw material prices diverged, with adipic acid weakening and hexamethylenediamine (HMD) staying firm, squeezing producers' margins for Polyamide producers. Although according to NBS China, manufacturing activity rebounded, indicating wider industrial revival, manufacturers favoured controlling inventories over increasing output, keeping prices in line with subdued consumption.

The automotive industry, a major consumer, grappled with oversupply and a 3% month-to-month drop in February's new energy vehicle (NEV) sales, further weakening procurement. While the market entered its traditional peak season, concerns over oversupply and weak market sentiments despite post lunar year holiday resumption remained, leading merchants to implement flexible pricing measures to drive transactions.

On the other hand, in the United States, due to firm production conditions and improved demand from the automotive industry, Polyamide prices remain stable. Manufacturing growth in February sustained steady supply levels, with producers maintaining input inventories in anticipation of possible cost increases due to trade uncertainty. The postponement of the implementation of tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports ensured consistent access to worldwide supply despite some logistical challenges such as higher lead times and sporadic labour shortages.

On the demand side, the U.S. automotive sector experienced a 9.8% month-to-month increase in car sales, which supported consistent Polyamide consumption. Additionally pre-emptive procurements by market participants to avoid potential price increases, led to continued demand. However, falling consumer confidence in February—the steepest decline since 2021—brought in caution among industry players, dampening otherwise solid market prospects.

According to ChemAnalyst, the Polyamide market will continue to be driven by regional economic trends and trade policies in the future. In China, a gradual recovery in downstream demand during the traditional peak season might offer some support, but lingering oversupply and weak industrial activity could continue to suppress prices.

The U.S. market, however, faces two-fold pressures: strong automotive demand might conflict with possible tariff implementations and weakening consumer sentiment. Additionally geopolitical tension surrounding trade may redefine supply chain strategy whereas energy price fluctuations will drive feedstock prices on a global level impacting overall Polyamide price trend.