The domestic substitution of high-end specialty nylon is moving from slogans to reality. In the past month, from bio-based nylon 12 to semi-aromatic MXD6, from Wanhua Chemical's PA12 upgrade to Toray's 100% bio-based nylon 66 process, multiple companies have intensively released capacity and technology signals. These moves signify a comprehensive breakthrough in China's long-chain nylon supply chain, from raw materials to end applications.
Bio-Based Nylon 12: Breaking the Raw Material Bottleneck
Sinochem, through its subsidiary Zhongqi Capital, has made an exclusive Series A investment in Tuowei New Materials, entering the bio-based nylon 12 track. Tuowei's core product, 12-aminododecanoic acid—a key monomer for nylon 12—has achieved the world's highest fermentation efficiency and passed verification by top clients such as Arkema and Kingfa. A multi-thousand-ton production line is about to be built, marking the first industrial production path for bio-based nylon 12 in China.
The global nylon 12 market exceeds 10 billion yuan, long monopolized by foreign companies like Evonik and Arkema. Traditional chemical methods are costly and carbon-intensive, while bio-based routes offer advantages in greenness and cost control, with significant room for further cost reduction. For downstream high-end applications like automotive, 3D printing, and medical devices, domestic raw material supply will significantly reduce supply chain risks.
PA12 Capacity Expansion: Wanhua Chemical Consolidates Leadership
On May 29, Wanhua Chemical's PA12 device expansion project in Yantai, Shandong, entered the environmental assessment stage. The project, with an investment of 78.68 million yuan, will build a new laurolactam granulation unit with a designed annual capacity of 18,000 tons of LL solid particles, enabling flexible production switching. After completion, Wanhua's PA12 resin maximum capacity will increase to 20,000 tons/year, with 1,000 tons dedicated to high-end powder markets, bringing total PA12 capacity to 40,000 tons/year, ranking among the top in China.
This capacity expansion is significant not just in scale. Wanhua is also developing bio-based laurolactam, aligning with dual-carbon policies and high-end trends. Against the backdrop of long-term import dependence for PA12 intermediates, Wanhua's expansion means growing domestic influence in raw materials for long-chain nylon.
100% Bio-Based Nylon 66: Toray Achieves Process Breakthrough
On May 27, Toray and Thailand's GC announced a global first: using agricultural waste like cassava starch residue to produce muconic acid via fermentation, then mass-producing 100% bio-based nylon 66. The joint R&D started in 2023, with plans for commercial production of core raw materials by 2030 and textile products by fiscal 2028.
PA6 and PA66 account for over 90% of the global nylon market, serving high-end apparel, automotive, and electronics. While China has achieved domestic production of key raw material adiponitrile for PA66, bio-based PA66 remains a gap. Toray's breakthrough means global high-end nylon competition has upgraded to a full-scale battle over raw materials, processes, and low-carbon supply chains. For Chinese companies, this is both pressure and direction—bio-based routes will become the next focal point.
MXD6 Localization Accelerates: Sinochem International and Qicai Chemical Lead
On May 20, Hubei Heju Polymer's Hengju MXD6 specialty nylon project began pilot trials, with a first-phase capacity of 3,000 tons. MXD6, a rare semi-aromatic nylon, has global annual production of only 30,000-40,000 tons, long concentrated in foreign players like Toyobo and Solvay.
Domestic industrialization is accelerating. In 2024, Sinochem International achieved stable mass production of MXD6 at a hundred-ton level, and Qicai Chemical's 5,000-ton MXD6 project successfully entered trial production. These developments have completely broken the long-standing foreign monopoly, speeding up domestic substitution in the MXD6 segment. For downstream applications like packaging and auto structural parts, this means lower costs and improved supply stability.
Industry Landscape: Long-Chain Nylon Enters Scale Competition
China's long-chain nylon industry has formed a large-scale layout. Wanhua Chemical leads in PA12 full-chain capacity and technology; Dongchen Ruisen has 30,000 tons/year capacity covering multiple long-chain nylons and high-temperature bio-based nylons; Guangyin New Materials focuses on PA12 mass production, continuously improving high-end product supply.
Overall, long-chain nylon, with its excellent performance, is widely used in automotive oil pipes, submarine cables, and 3D printing. As domestic companies continue technical breakthroughs and capacity implementation, dependence on foreign raw materials is declining. Bio-based nylon, high-end intermediates, and semi-aromatic nylon have become core competitive tracks. China's industry is accelerating its breakout, aiming to capture core discourse power in the global high-end nylon market.