April 30, 2026 – The global chemical fiber industry is stepping into a
Stringent regulatory frameworks worldwide are reshaping the industry’s development pattern, with a focus on product quality, safety and environmental protection. In China, the State Administration for Market Regulation has revised and issued the Measures for the Quality Supervision and Administration of Fiber Products and the mandatory national standard General Technical Requirements for Fiber-Filled Products, both of which will take effect on July 1, 2026. The new regulations expand the supervision scope to all daily-use fiber products, prohibit the use of medical fibrous waste and used funeral fiber products in processing, and mandate clear labeling of recycled raw materials. Specifically, recycled chemical fibers are banned from being used in underwear and infant fiber products, except for recycled polyester fiber in infant fiber-filled products, aiming to ensure product safety and standardize the market environment.
Technological innovation is leading the industry’s transformation, with breakthroughs in green materials, functional fibers and production processes. At the 2026 China International Textile Yarn (Spring and Summer) Exhibition held in Shanghai, a number of innovative products were unveiled, including grass fiber, a new type of regenerated cellulose fiber developed by Xinxiang Chemical Fiber Co., Ltd. This fiber, made from grass with a cellulose content of over 50%, is sustainable, naturally antibacterial and environmentally friendly, reducing deforestation compared to wood pulp fibers. Xinxiang Chemical Fiber plans to expand its grass fiber production capacity to 20,000 tons in 2026. Meanwhile, Jiangsu Shenghong Chemical Fiber New Materials Co., Ltd. has built the world’s first carbon capture and utilization industrial chain, converting industrial carbon dioxide emissions into fiber-grade ethylene glycol, which can reduce carbon emissions by 28.4% compared with traditional processes.
Functional fiber innovation is also expanding the industry’s application boundaries. Special anti-static fibers developed by Kaite Special Fiber Technology Co., Ltd. have been initially applied in robot "skin" manufacturing, helping robots accurately control gripping force through resistance feedback. Additionally, skin-friendly fibers tailored for sensitive skin groups have become a market focus, with lyocell fiber widely used in women’s clothing and intimate wear due to its comfort. Data shows that the number of sensitive skin people in China alone exceeds 300 million, driving strong demand for such functional fibers.
The global chemical fiber market is showing a strong recovery momentum, with remarkable performance from key enterprises. On April 28, 2026, Oriental Shenghong Co., Ltd. released its brilliant Q1 financial report, achieving operating income of 32.022 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.65%, and net profit attributable to parent company of 1.432 billion yuan, a year-on-year surge of 319.86% and a month-on-month increase of 20357%. The strong performance is driven by the stabilization of crude oil costs, the recovery of chemical fiber product prices and the explosive demand for new energy materials. Other key players such as Tongkun Co., Ltd. and Xinfengming Co., Ltd. also saw steady profit recovery, benefiting from the improved supply-demand pattern and inventory de-stocking.
Regional market dynamics show distinct characteristics. Asia Pacific dominates the global chemical fiber industry, accounting for 76.3% of the total production capacity, with China’s production capacity reaching 78 million tons per year, accounting for more than 65% of the global total. Europe and North America are focusing on high-end and sustainable product R&D, while emerging markets in Southeast Asia, India and the Middle East are accelerating their industrial layout. According to industry forecasts, the global chemical fiber market will maintain steady growth in the next five years, driven by the recovery of the textile downstream industry, the increasing demand for new energy materials and the promotion of green transformation policies.
Major industry players are accelerating strategic layout to seize market opportunities. Leading enterprises such as Hengyi Petrochemical, Huafeng Chemical and Zhongfu Shenying are expanding their production capacity and strengthening R&D investment in new energy materials and recycled fibers. Meanwhile, enterprises are actively promoting energy-saving and emission-reduction technologies, such as Zhejiang Jiaren New Materials Co., Ltd., which has reduced the traditional dyeing temperature of polyester fabrics from 150℃ to 98℃, significantly reducing energy consumption and exhaust emissions.
Despite the positive growth momentum, the industry still faces challenges, including the high cost of green technology R&D, the need for further improvement in the recycling system of waste textiles, and the impact of raw material price fluctuations. However, with the continuous advancement of technological innovation, the implementation of strict regulatory policies and the growing market demand for sustainable and functional products, these barriers are expected to be gradually addressed. Industry experts predict that the chemical fiber industry will continue to move toward greenization, high-endization and intelligence, playing a crucial role in the global textile industry and new energy material field.