A nearly 40% annual growth rate has made lyocell fiber one of the hottest tracks in the textile materials sector. This figure was repeatedly cited at the 2026 Bio-based Chemical Fiber and Raw Material Industry Chain Collaborative Innovation Exchange, reflecting the industry's collective anxiety and expectation about turning green transformation from concept into reality. With the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism approaching, bio-based materials are no longer an option but a ticket to stay in the global supply chain.
Signals Behind the Industry Data
Zhang Zixin, Director of the Science and Technology Department of the China Chemical Fibers Association, disclosed at the meeting that the supply and demand of lyocell fiber has maintained a high growth rate of nearly 40% in the past two years, with the industry continuing to improve. This figure far exceeds traditional chemical fiber categories, reflecting strong market demand for green fibers. Meanwhile, data from the China Industrial Textiles Industry Association showed that China's nonwovens output exceeded 9 million tons for the first time in 2025, with disposable hygiene products remaining the primary application market, while the rapid expansion of wiping materials is driving the development of biodegradable raw materials.
These two sets of data point to a clear trend: bio-based fibers are moving from "technical validation" in laboratories to "market validation" in large-scale production. For buyers, this means fundamental changes in supply stability and cost structures; for factories, it signals the opening of a window for production line upgrades and raw material switching.
Technological Breakthroughs and Raw Material Diversification
Academician Cheng Bowen analyzed frontier technologies such as cellulose swelling and dissolution and lyocell spinning, proposing a full-chain research system covering "mechanism tracing, technological breakthroughs, applications and standards." This is not merely an academic path but a roadmap for industrial implementation. Wang Huaping, a researcher at Donghua University, predicted that bio-based chemical fibers and biodegradable fiber materials will maintain high growth in the coming years, with the proportion of green fibers in the overall structure rising significantly, but the key lies in pushing from "technically feasible" to "market viable."
On the raw material side, Jin Gaoling, Vice President of the China Chemical Fibers Association, clearly stated the need to advance the localization and large-scale preparation of key monomers such as high-purity lactic acid, lactide, and furan dicarboxylic acid, and to fully utilize resources like straw, corn cobs, Juncao, and bamboo to achieve raw material diversification. This implies a reassessment of costs and supply chain security for enterprises relying on imported raw materials. Xinxiang Chemical Fiber's "Firstcell" thousand-ton production line is already running stably, using ionic liquid method to achieve non-derivatized green dissolution of cellulose, providing a replicable industrial sample for the industry.
Standards and Market Access Game
Zhang Qian, Director of the Planning and Research Division of the Industry Department of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, highlighted the industry's pain point: green development in textiles is no longer just an environmental issue but a survival issue for market access. International green trade rules are reshaping the competitive landscape, and enterprises need to accelerate the construction of a full-chain green manufacturing system covering green energy, green fibers, and green chemicals. At the association level, the "Premium Fiber Selection" project is establishing evaluation technical specifications, building a full-industry-chain traceability system and carbon footprint disclosure mechanism to ensure a quality closed loop and sustainable value from fiber to garment.
This means that in the future, foreign trade orders will no longer be determined solely by price and delivery time; carbon footprint data, biodegradability certifications, and bio-based content testing will become hard indicators. For export-oriented enterprises, if they do not prepare now, they may not even qualify for bidding in the future.
Terminal Applications and Upgraded Consumer Scenarios
The value of bio-based materials is no longer limited to the "eco-friendly" label. Sun Mingliang, founder of COOL-FRESH® brand, emphasized that fabric R&D needs to focus on consumer scenario emotions and composite functional needs, driving bio-based materials toward an integrated upgrade of aesthetics, performance, and sustainability. Jiangsu Sanlian New Materials showcased its bio-based polyester filament product matrix, covering multi-dimensional functions such as cooling, achieving a value leap from "green raw materials" to "functional fibers."
Associate Professor Cui Meng from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology also demonstrated applications of polylactic acid-based nanofibers in wearable self-powered sensors and smart wound dressings, suggesting the potential of bio-based materials in the healthcare sector. These cases indicate that bio-based fibers are evolving from alternative materials to functional materials, providing downstream brands with differentiated product narratives.