The localization of high-end specialty fibers is moving from 'can be made' to 'made well.' The latest list from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) for the 'Open Competition' mechanism for key fine chemical product innovation tasks has caused ripples in the textile industry, as the tasks directly target the most 'bottleneck' links in the high-performance fiber chain.
Focus: Upstream Raw Materials and Equipment
The tasks cover three categories: intermediate raw materials, key materials, and critical equipment. In the high-performance fiber monomer sector, Zhejiang Dragon, Chengdu Eastar Biotech, and Sichuan University have teamed up for PBO fiber key monomer DAR; Dragon also took on the PIPD fiber monomer TAP project. This signals the state's shift from 'availability' to 'purity and stable supply' for upstream specialty fiber raw materials.
On the fiber material side, China Blues Star Chemical is tackling PIPD fiber, while Puyang Green New Materials focuses on melamine fiber, both targeting industrial applications of domestic flame-retardant fibers. Carbon fiber and composite supporting areas are even more prominent: Zhejiang Baowan Carbon Fiber, Lianyungang Shenying Composites, Yulin Hengshen New Materials, etc., are selected for high-strength high-modulus carbon fiber precursor oil agent; the National Advanced Functional Fiber Innovation Center and Weihai Tuozhan Fiber are jointly developing carbon fiber composite sizing agent, targeting the core technical challenge of interface compatibility between carbon fiber and resin matrix. Additionally, Yangtze River Delta Physics Research Center is selected for high-performance fiber polymerization reactor, ensuring self-sufficiency in key equipment.
Industry Impact: Full-Chain Breakthrough
The list sends a clear signal: China's specialty fiber industry has entered the 'deep water' stage. In recent years, capacity expansion for high-performance fibers like carbon fiber and aramid has been rapid, but the localization rate of key upstream raw materials, auxiliaries, and equipment remains low. For PBO fiber, the key monomer DAR has long been imported, with price fluctuations directly affecting downstream costs. The joint project by Dragon and Sichuan University is expected to achieve stable supply within 2-3 years, lowering application barriers in bulletproof and aerospace fields.
The breakthrough in carbon fiber precursor oil agent and composite sizing agent is more significant for downstream buyers. The oil agent directly affects the spinnability and surface quality of carbon fiber precursor, while the sizing agent determines the wettability and interfacial shear strength between carbon fiber and resin. Currently, China's carbon fiber capacity exceeds 100,000 tons, but high-end grades (e.g., T800, M series) still face 'capacity without compatibility' in aerospace and high-end sports equipment. The collaboration between Weihai Tuozhan and the National Advanced Functional Fiber Innovation Center will directly enhance the competitiveness of domestic carbon fiber in high-end composite applications.
Policy Leverage: Industry-Finance Integration
Notably, the MIIT will leverage the national industry-finance cooperation platform to provide investment and financing support for selected projects and incorporate the enterprises into a high-quality gradient cultivation system. This means selected companies will not only gain 'recognition' for technical breakthroughs but also receive substantial capital backing. For the textile industry, this signals that companies with R&D capabilities in specialty fiber upstream raw materials, auxiliaries, and equipment will be favored by capital and policy in the coming years.