How is the overall operation of China's chemical fiber industry in the past year? What are the characteristics of industry development? In the beginning year of fully implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, how should China's chemical fiber industry seize the opportunity, fully strive for development, and inject new momentum into high-quality development?

        A reporter from China Textile News recently interviewed Chen Xinwei, the president of the China Chemical Fiber Industry Association. He analyzed and reviewed the development of China's chemical fiber industry in 2022, and looked forward to the trends and opportunities for industry development in 2023.

        Export growth demonstrates resilience

        According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, from January to November 2022, China's chemical fiber production was 61.77 million tons, a slight decrease of 0.1% year-on-year; The operating revenue of the chemical fiber industry increased by 6.4% year-on-year, but the total profit decreased by 65.05% year-on-year; The revenue profit margin is 2.13%, a decrease of 4 percentage points from 2021. Chemical fiber contributes 12.5% of the total profit of the textile industry.

        2022 is a difficult year for chemical fiber enterprises. Faced with complex and severe domestic and international situations and multiple factors, the chemical fiber industry is operating under pressure. Due to the repeated impact of the epidemic, uncertainty in the operation of domestic and foreign supply chains and the resumption of work and production of enterprises has increased, which has brought great resistance to the normal production and operation of chemical fiber enterprises, especially small enterprises. The significant fluctuations in crude oil prices have also seriously dragged down the chemical fiber market. At the same time, downstream demand continues to increase Low Chen Xinwei said, "Overall, the production and operation situation of the chemical fiber industry in 2022 is severe, and the industry is' increasing income without increasing profits'

        Chen Xinwei emphasized that the overall economic operation of the textile industry will show a slowing trend in 2022. The core factor affecting the operation of the chemical fiber industry is still insufficient demand. From the perspective of the start-up rate of the main downstream industries of chemical fiber, there has generally been a decrease compared to the same period last year. Taking the operating rate of the weaving industry in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions as an example, the average operating rate in March was 70%, a decrease of 16 percentage points compared to the same period last year; The monthly average operating rates from April to August are all below 60%, while the monthly average operating rates in September and October have rebounded to around 70%; But since late October, there has been a downward trend, with the operating rate at around 40% by the end of the year.

        However, Chen Xinwei pointed out that in 2022, China's chemical fiber industry still showed strong development resilience, especially in the operation of the carbon fiber industry, the development of green fiber varieties, and industry exports, all showing highlights.

        The domestic carbon fiber industry still maintains a high level of momentum, with increasing market demand, rapid growth in production capacity, and production lines operating at full capacity. Multiple new projects are racing against time to catch up, "Chen Xinwei said. According to feedback from key enterprises, throughout the year, the main revenue and net profit of enterprises have increased significantly compared to the same period last year. In 2022, it is expected that the entire domestic carbon fiber industry will still achieve overall profitability.

        At the same time, guided by new development concepts and the "dual carbon" goals, the scale of the bio based fiber industry has maintained rapid growth, such as the continuous breakthroughs in key technologies of polylactic acid fibers, which have received more attention; The development trend of Les Aires fiber industry has obviously improved. Chen Xinwei stated that the research and development pace of differentiated and functionalized fibers is also accelerating. Large enterprises that have done well in product development, branding, and internationalization are relatively more cost-effective and less affected by market fluctuations.

        It is worth noting that in 2022, China's chemical fiber product exports still maintained a good growth trend.

        According to statistics from China Customs, from January to November 2022, the total export volume of major chemical fiber products increased by 9.44% year-on-year, 2.11 percentage points higher than the average annual growth rate of 7.33% since the 13th Five Year Plan (2015). Among them, the export volume of acrylic fiber showed a strong growth, with a year-on-year increase of 203.75% from January to November; The export of polyester bottles and chips also showed a bright performance. After the year-on-year growth of 36% in 2021, the export volume from January to November 2022 continued to grow significantly by 42.99%. Russia, the Philippines, Türkiye, Algeria and Peru were the top five export markets.

       In 2022, the export growth of China's chemical fiber products reflects the increase in international market demand and the improvement of China's chemical fiber product competitiveness, "Chen Xinwei emphasized.

        Continuously enhancing innovation capability

        In April 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on the High Quality Development of the Chemical Fiber Industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guiding Opinions").

        The Guiding Opinions require that the chemical fiber industry should build a high-end, intelligent, and green modern industrial system during the 14th Five Year Plan period, and comprehensively build a strong chemical fiber country. In the face of high-end development requirements, innovation capabilities are constantly increasing, and the investment intensity of industry research and development funds reaches 2%. The research and development and manufacturing capacity of high-performance fibers meets the national strategic needs. In terms of intelligence, Digital transformation has achieved remarkable results, with the digital penetration rate of enterprise operation and management reaching 80%, and the numerical control rate of key processes reaching 80%. In terms of greening, the green manufacturing system is constantly improving, with the proportion of green fibers increasing to over 25%. The annual growth rate of bio based chemical fibers and biodegradable fiber materials is over 20%. The comprehensive utilization level and scale of waste resources are further developing, and the carbon emission intensity of the industry is significantly reduced.

        This is the fourth consecutive time since the 11th Five Year Plan in 2006 that national ministries and commissions have issued plans or guiding opinions in the form of national industrial policies to promote the development of the chemical fiber industry. "Chen Xinwei said," The issuance of the Guiding Opinions fully reflects the determination and confidence of the country to vigorously promote the high-quality development of the chemical fiber industry, and will have a profound impact on the development of China's chemical fiber industry

        In terms of technological innovation, in 2022, a number of scientific and technological achievements in the chemical fiber industry were awarded the Industry Science and Technology Award and the National Patent Award.

        Chen Xinwei introduced that five projects jointly completed by Shenma Industry, China Textile Academy and other units, such as "Development and Industrialized Application of Continuous Polymerization Multi head Direct Spinning Technology of High strength Polyamide 66 Industrial Silk", Weifang Xinlong, Qingdao University and others, such as "Research on Integration of Inorganic/Organic Composite Flame Retardant Fiber Technology Based on 100000 ton Production Line", won the first prize of the "Light of Textile" Science and Technology Progress Award of China Textile manufacturing Federation; Eight projects, including "High efficiency and low consumption Les Aires fiber production technology and product development" undertaken by Tangshan Sanyou, and "copper series antibacterial, mildew resistant and mite repellent fiber industrial technology development and application" completed by China National Textile Academy and Zhejiang Jincai, were awarded the second prize of Science and Technology Progress Award Yizheng Chemical Fibre completed the project of "Research and Development of Key Technologies for Preparation of Ultra High Modulus Paraaramid Fiber", and Nantong University, Xinfengming and other companies completed the project of "Development and Industrialization of Antimicrobial and Antiviral Multifunctional Polyester Fiber Colored with Nanodisperse Technology Stock Solution", which won the second prize of "Textile Light" scientific and technological invention.

        The chemical fiber industry has also made significant achievements in high-end and intelligent development.

        Chen Xinwei introduced that in terms of Digital transformation and upgrading, the leading polyester enterprises have established the "PTA polyester spinning trade" polyester fiber full industrial chain industrial Internet platform system, developed data-driven intelligent control technology for the whole process of efficient fiber production, and realized standardized, flexible, green production and efficient fine management.

        In terms of high-performance fiber technology, the enterprise has developed the key technology of dry spinning PAN based carbon fiber precursor, which has enriched the preparation process of Polyacrylonitrile based (PAN based) carbon fiber precursor in China. Breakthroughs have also been made in key technologies and equipment such as large bundle carbon fibers of over 48K, high-strength and high model para aramid fibers, ultra-high-strength and cutting resistant ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, further improving the production and application level of domestically produced high-performance fibers, and providing independent protection for key equipment.

        The industry has many highlights in green development.

        Chen Xinwei introduced that in 2022, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Commerce jointly issued the "Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the Recycling of Waste Textiles", encouraging textile enterprises to prioritize the use of green fiber raw materials and strengthen the construction of green product standards, certification, and labeling systems; Guide and support textile enterprises, especially brand enterprises, to use recycled fibers and products, increase the proportion of alternative use of recycled fibers, and promote the high-value utilization of waste textiles.

        Thanks to green development, Xinfengming and Haili Environmental Protection have been selected as demonstration enterprises for green design of industrial products. Ruibang · China Fiber Zero Carbon Action 2022 Green Fiber Products Trusted Platform (STCP) is launched online, committed to creating an international first-class certification platform. Sateri, Sanyou Chemical Fiber, Siliya and other member enterprises of the Green Development Alliance (CV Alliance) of the renewable cellulose fiber industry released the Sustainable Development Report, actively implementing the "dual carbon" strategy. The green fiber certification work continues to be promoted, and currently, there are 40 green fiber and product certification enterprises.

        The entire industry focuses on research and development and the promotion of new technologies, constantly moving towards high-end, intelligent, and green development, "said Chen Xinwei.

        Consolidate and enhance competitive advantages

        The chemical fiber industry is the core support for the stable development and continuous innovation of the textile industry chain, an internationally competitive advantage industry, and an important component of the new materials industry. In the new stage of development, what development priorities should the industry grasp and make every effort to seek high-quality development?

        "The successful convening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has provided an action guide for the high-quality development of the textile industry." Chen Xinwei said that the high-quality development of the chemical fiber industry resonates with the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and is an important participant and practitioner of Chinese path to modernization.

        In the new year, the chemical fiber industry should focus on promoting high-quality development from the following five aspects. "Chen Xinwei pointed out: first, to enhance the level of innovative development in the industrial chain, such as building a solid foundation for innovation, strengthening regional layout, and cultivating leading enterprises; Secondly, we need to promote the high-end development of new fiber materials, such as increasing the added value of conventional fibers, improving the production and application level of high-performance fibers, and accelerating the development of bio based chemical fibers and degradable fiber materials; Third, we should accelerate the intelligent digital transformation, such as strengthening the research and development and application of intelligent equipment, carrying out the construction of intelligent factories, and promoting the Digital transformation of enterprises; The fourth is to realize the green and low-carbon transformation of the development mode, such as carrying out the construction of green factories, green products and green supply chains, promoting energy-saving and low-carbon development, improving the level of recycling, expanding green fiber production, and building a clean, low-carbon and recycling green manufacturing system; The fifth is to implement the strategy of increasing variety, improving quality, and creating brand "three products", such as optimizing supply structure, strengthening standard support, and promoting brand construction. Increase the supply of high-quality products, optimize the production and application system of high-performance fibers, cultivate well-known fiber brands, expand fiber application fields, lead the increase of textile value from the raw material side, and serve the development of strategic emerging industries.

        In the new year, the chemical fiber industry should focus on promoting high-quality development from the following five aspects. "Chen Xinwei pointed out: first, to enhance the level of innovative development in the industrial chain, such as building a solid foundation for innovation, strengthening regional layout, and cultivating leading enterprises; Secondly, we need to promote the high-end development of new fiber materials, such as increasing the added value of conventional fibers, improving the production and application level of high-performance fibers, and accelerating the development of bio based chemical fibers and degradable fiber materials; Third, we should accelerate the intelligent digital transformation, such as strengthening the research and development and application of intelligent equipment, carrying out the construction of intelligent factories, and promoting the Digital transformation of enterprises; The fourth is to realize the green and low-carbon transformation of the development mode, such as carrying out the construction of green factories, green products and green supply chains, promoting energy-saving and low-carbon development, improving the level of recycling, expanding green fiber production, and building a clean, low-carbon and recycling green manufacturing system; The fifth is to implement the strategy of increasing variety, improving quality, and creating brand "three products", such as optimizing supply structure, strengthening standard support, and promoting brand construction. Increase the supply of high-quality products, optimize the production and application system of high-performance fibers, cultivate well-known fiber brands, expand fiber application fields, lead the increase of textile value from the raw material side, and serve the development of strategic emerging industries.

        The Central Economic Work Conference also injected confidence into the development of chemical fiber enterprises.

        "The Central Economic Work Conference clearly pointed out that in 2023, we should adhere to the principle of stability and progress in stability, continue to implement active fiscal policies and prudent monetary policies, increase macro-policy regulation, strengthen coordination and cooperation of various policies, and form a joint force to jointly promote high-quality development. The meeting clearly put efforts to expand domestic demand in the first place, and emphasized the need to support the development of the private economy and private enterprises, which injected private entrepreneurs We have gained strong confidence in development Chen Xinwei said that private enterprises in the chemical fiber industry have accounted for over 80% of the industry's production capacity, and these policies will be conducive to the stable development of the chemical fiber industry.

        When it comes to the operation of the industry in 2023, Chen Xinwei believes that "in the short term, the chemical fiber industry and enterprises may face greater challenges, but the industry has sufficient development resilience, and it is expected that the industry will reach a bottom and stabilize in 2023

        2023 is the beginning year for the comprehensive implementation of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and also a crucial year for the '14th Five Year Plan'. The chemical fiber industry should continue to implement the 'Guiding Opinions on the High Quality Development of the Chemical Fiber Industry' The overall requirements and key tasks are to move towards high-end, intelligent, and green high-quality development. China's chemical fiber industry needs to strengthen confidence, consolidate advantages, be brave in taking on responsibilities, enhance development resilience, and further promote high-quality development of the industry Chen Xinwei said.