The technical textiles industry delivered a report card of 'stable total volume, shifting structure' in early 2026. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, from January to May, output of nonwovens by enterprises above designated size grew 9.5% year-on-year, and cord fabric output rose 3.8%, with growth rates accelerating by 5.6 and 3.4 percentage points respectively from the same period in 2025. Behind the output acceleration lies sustained demand from hygiene, filtration, and packaging sectors. However, industry-wide total profits still fell 3% year-on-year, with an operating profit margin of only 3.6%, indicating that volume growth has not fully translated into profitability, as price competition and cost pressures continue to erode margins.
Segment Divergence: Nonwovens Lead, Traditional Categories Struggle
Among sub-sectors, nonwovens performed best: operating revenue rose 2.5%, while total profits surged 9.9%, and the profit margin improved to 2.7%. This contrast suggests nonwoven producers found profitability breakthroughs through product upgrades or scale effects in a thin-margin environment. In contrast, the rope, cordage, and cable sector saw revenue edge up 1.8% but profits plunged 9.7%; tarpaulins and canvas saw revenue grow 8.5% but profits fell 5.7%. The divergence between revenue and profit reflects the combined effects of raw material cost volatility and weak bargaining power downstream. The textile belts and cord fabric sector saw revenue drop 4.1% but profit decline narrowed to 2.4%, indicating active destocking and product mix adjustment.
Export Structure Optimization: Nonwovens and Absorbent Products as Dual Engines
Customs data shows that from January to May, technical textile exports reached US$18.81 billion, up 5.3% year-on-year. Nonwoven exports hit US$1.93 billion, up 10.7%, with export volume reaching 770,000 tons, up 13.4%, showing clear volume and price growth. Absorbent products (diapers, sanitary pads) exported US$1.76 billion, up 10.7%; wet wipes exported US$490 million, up 14.7%, becoming one of the fastest-growing categories. Technical glass fiber products exported US$1.02 billion, up 12.2%, reflecting sustained demand from infrastructure and new energy sectors. Coated fabrics, a traditional large export category, grew only 1%, while tents and canvas saw slight declines, indicating saturation in outdoor and military demand.
Market Landscape: US and Vietnam Lead, Belt and Road Accounts for Nearly 60%
Among the top five export destinations, the US ranked first with US$2.21 billion, up 3.5%; Vietnam US$1.48 billion, up 8.3%; Japan US$940 million, up 0.9%. Notably, exports to Belt and Road countries reached US$11.34 billion, up 5.5%, accounting for 60.3% of total industry exports. This means the market focus of China's technical textiles is shifting from traditional Western markets to emerging economies, especially Southeast and South Asia, where infrastructure construction and population growth are creating new demand increments. On the import side, industry imports reached US$2.28 billion, up 3.1%, mainly concentrated in mid-to-high-end nonwovens and specialty coated materials, reflecting room for domestic substitution in high-end products.
Cost and Prices: Oil Drop Eases Chemical Fiber Costs, but Viscose Rises Counter-Cyclically
In June, international oil prices fell sharply as tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran eased, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz improved, and geopolitical premiums receded. Polyester and PET prices weakened, nylon filament ran weak, and polypropylene began a downward channel. This is a cost benefit for chemical fiber-based sectors like nonwovens, ropes, and cord fabric. However, viscose staple fiber prices rose counter-cyclically due to cost support and tight supply, pressuring companies that use viscose. Overall, the trading logic of the chemical fiber industry is shifting from geopolitical drivers to supply-demand fundamentals, and future price trends will depend more on the pace of end-demand recovery and new capacity release.