Carbon Fiber Full-Spectrum Manufacturing Breakthrough: China National Building Material Group Launches Three Global Largest Lines in Lianyungang Reshaping High-End Material Competition
On June 28, China National Building Material Group (CNBM) officially commissioned three global largest carbon fiber production lines in Lianyungang, covering high-strength, high-modulus, and large-tow categories. This move is not a simple capacity expansion but a critical shift from single-point breakthroughs to full-spectrum coverage. Previously, domestic carbon fiber capacity was concentrated in T300-T700 grades, with high-end products heavily dependent on imports. The simultaneous launch of three lines marks China's first autonomous large-scale manufacturing of aerospace-grade T1100, industrial-grade 48K large-tow, and M40+ high-modulus carbon fibers.
Background: From Bottleneck to Full-Spectrum Autonomy
The Lianyungang base started construction in June 2023, covering 1,500 mu with a total investment of 6 billion RMB, planning ten full-capability lines with a designed capacity of 31,000 tons. The three lines now operational target different technology tiers: the first produces 1,000 tons/year of SYT70 (T1100-grade) high-strength carbon fiber for aerospace lightweighting; the second produces 5,000 tons/year of SYT45S-48K large-tow carbon fiber for cost-sensitive industrial applications like wind turbine blades and new energy vehicles; the third produces 600 tons/year of M40+ high-modulus carbon fiber for deep-sea/space equipment, sports gear, and 3C electronics. After one month of trial operation, all lines achieved 'production meets standards,' indicating process maturity close to international levels.
Industry data shows China's carbon fiber demand in 2025 was about 120,000 tons, but high-end self-sufficiency was below 40%. The new T1100-grade line will directly challenge the monopoly of Hexcel and Toray in the high-end market, while the 48K large-tow line could reduce industrial-grade carbon fiber costs by 30%-50%, accelerating adoption in wind energy and automotive sectors.
Industry Impact: Upstream-Downstream Synergy and Cost Restructuring
For downstream buyers, full-spectrum supply means more flexible material selection and shorter supply chains. Previously, aerospace firms had to source high-strength carbon fiber separately, while wind turbine manufacturers sought large-tow from different suppliers, leading to longer certification cycles. CNBM's 'high-strength, high-modulus, large-tow' matrix enables one-stop procurement, reducing certification and logistics costs.
For upstream raw material and equipment suppliers, the 31,000-ton capacity will drive demand for acrylonitrile, carbonization furnaces, and related systems. Jiangsu Vice Governor Shen Jianrong explicitly committed to building a regular upstream-downstream exchange mechanism, potentially making Jiangsu a new carbon fiber cluster hub. Sun Shaobin, Deputy Director of the SASAC Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, indicated that central enterprises would be guided to systematically break through carbon fiber bottlenecks, hinting at future policies including R&D subsidies and application demonstration projects.
However, overcapacity risks loom. China's planned carbon fiber capacity already exceeds 200,000 tons, while 2025 demand is only 120,000 tons, with low-end products already seeing price wars. CNBM's strategy of combining 'high-end + scale' essentially avoids homogeneous competition by using technology barriers to protect margins. For smaller carbon fiber firms, failing to differentiate in niche segments (e.g., medical-grade, sports-specific) could lead to consolidation or elimination.