"Black gold" is expected to move from "major national strategic equipment" to the main battlefield of the national economy, with China National Chemical Corporation's Shen Ying rising over 12%.

(Source: Caixin)

As emerging sectors such as commercial spaceflight, low-altitude economy, and humanoid robots surge in demand, carbon fiber is expected to shift from a strategic material for major national projects to a mainstay in the national economy.

On March 24, the concept of carbon fiber rapidly rose, with China National Chemical Corporation’s Zhongfu Shenying (688295.SH) up over 12%. Jilin Carbon Valley (920077.BJ), Jilin Chemical Fiber (000420.SZ), Zhongjian Technology (300777.SZ), and Guangwei Refractory Materials (300699.SZ) also followed the gains.

According to reports, Zhongfu Shenying, a subsidiary of China National Building Material Group, independently developed the SYT80 (T1200 grade) ultra-high-strength carbon fiber, which has officially been put into production, reaching the top global industry standards and achieving first-scale mass production of over 100 tons. T1200-grade carbon fiber is currently one of the strongest carbon fibers in the world; previously, only a few companies like Japan Toray had the capacity for mass production.

Additionally, Jilin Chemical Fiber Group’s wet-process 3K thousand-ton carbonization line recently began commissioning and production. The single-line capacity reaches 1,500 tons per year, producing fibers without fuzz, color differences, or uneven yarns, with stable and reliable performance. It can supply carbon fiber materials for high-end fields such as aerospace, medical devices, and automotive lightweighting. Currently, Jilin Chemical Fiber’s wet-process 3K carbon fiber capacity has reached 5,000 tons annually. Since the second half of last year, it has been in continuous full-capacity operation due to persistent demand, and its products are widely recognized and favored in domestic and international markets. This year, Jilin Chemical Fiber plans to complete and put into operation seven additional carbonization lines, with total carbon fiber capacity expected to surpass 100,000 tons.

According to the latest report from MarkNtel Advisors, the global carbon fiber and composite materials market is projected to grow from $27.9 billion in 2026 to $45.65 billion in 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 8.55%. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for about 38% of the global market share, with China, as a major producer and consumer, continuing to lead growth.

Industry insiders say that driven by policies, demand, and supply, China’s carbon fiber industry is experiencing explosive growth, with technological performance improving rapidly, equipment systems being perfected, and scale production expanding simultaneously. As emerging sectors like commercial spaceflight, low-altitude economy, and humanoid robots surge in demand, carbon fiber is poised to move from a strategic material for major national projects to a key component of the broader economy.