A production line capable of 1,000 tons per year of SYT70 (T1100-grade) high-strength carbon fiber, a 5,000-ton-per-year SYT45S-48K large-tow line, and a 600-ton-per-year M40-grade high-modulus line—three of the world's largest carbon fiber production lines—were commissioned on June 28, 2026, in Lianyungang, Jiangsu, by CNBM subsidiary Zhongfu Shenying.
According to public data, the Lianyungang base covers 1,500 mu (100 hectares) with a total investment of 6 billion yuan, planning ten full-capacity lines and a total design capacity of 31,000 tons. The first three lines achieved 'commissioning with target output' within one month of operation, signaling that China's carbon fiber industry has moved from isolated technological breakthroughs to scaled, full-spectrum manufacturing. For the textile sector, carbon fiber is not a traditional fabric, but its weaving, prepreg, and composite forming processes overlap significantly with technical textiles. This capacity leap will directly reshape upstream raw material supply.
Background
Carbon fiber is often called the 'king of materials,' with tensile strength 7-9 times that of steel at only one-quarter the density. For years, the global high-end carbon fiber market was dominated by Toray, Hexcel, and others, leaving China reliant on expensive, supply-constrained imports for high-strength, high-modulus grades. CNBM's SYT70 (T1100-grade) product matches top international levels in strength and modulus, targeting aerospace lightweighting needs. The SYT45S-48K large-tow line addresses cost-sensitive industrial applications such as wind turbine blades and new energy vehicles, aiming to reduce costs through scale and break the import monopoly on large-tow fibers.
Notably, construction of the base began in June 2023, and the first lines were commissioned in just two years—an unusually fast pace for heavy chemical projects. The Jiangsu provincial government has pledged full support for carbon fiber development, promoting regular matchmaking between upstream and downstream players. The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission emphasized 'systematic, chain-based breakthroughs' to remove bottlenecks, underlining strong policy and capital backing.
Industry Impact
For the textile industry, the most immediate shockwave from carbon fiber capacity expansion will hit technical textiles. Wind turbine blades are one of the largest industrial applications for carbon fiber, but domestic blade makers have long relied on imported large-tow fibers, facing price volatility and delivery uncertainty. The commissioning of Zhongfu Shenying's 5,000-ton large-tow line means wind blade manufacturers can access more stable, lower-cost domestic raw materials, reducing overall turbine costs and accelerating grid parity.
Aerospace also benefits. T1100-grade carbon fiber was previously mass-produced by only a few international companies, leaving domestic aerospace firms often with orders but no materials. The 1,000-ton capacity, though modest in absolute terms, is enough to support batch production for multiple key programs, reducing import dependence and supply chain risk. The high-modulus series (M40 and above) serves deep-sea exploration, high-end sports equipment, and 3C electronics, where material rigidity is critical; domestic substitution will enhance cost competitiveness of end products.
From a supply chain perspective, the entire carbon fiber process—spinning, stabilization, carbonization, surface treatment, sizing, weaving—closely mirrors continuous production logic in synthetic fibers. Zhongfu Shenying's 'green, high-end, digital-intelligent' approach at the Lianyungang base, including an automated carbonization line and intelligent warehouse, provides a replicable model for traditional synthetic fiber factories undergoing digital transformation.