China Launches World’s Largest Carbon Fiber Production Lines to Boost High-End Manufacturing

China has launched three of the world’s largest carbon fiber production lines in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to strengthen advanced materials manufacturing and accelerate industrial upgrading.

The new production facilities, operated by China National Building Material Group Co., manufacture general-purpose, high-strength and high-modulus carbon fiber products. Together, they expand domestic production capacity while supporting key industries that rely on high-performance materials.

Three Specialised Production Lines

Each of the newly commissioned production lines ranks among the largest of its kind globally and has been designed for a specific market segment.

The 5,000-tonne large-tow production line uses proprietary dry-wet spinning technology to manufacture carbon fibre for the wind power sector. By lowering production costs and improving manufacturing efficiency, the facility supports large-scale industrial output.

Meanwhile, the 1,000-tonne T1100 production line is the world’s first to feature a four-metre production width. It focuses on high-end applications, including aerospace and low-altitude aircraft, where advanced materials are essential for performance and reliability.

In addition, the 600-tonne high-modulus production line supplies carbon fibre for advanced equipment manufacturing and 3C electronics, expanding the availability of specialised materials for high-technology industries.

Strengthening Domestic Supply Chains

The combined launch of the three production lines reinforces China’s carbon fiber supply chain across multiple sectors.

The large-tow line is expected to support lighter and more cost-effective wind power equipment and electric vehicles. At the same time, the T1100 production line strengthens domestic capabilities in aerospace by reducing reliance on overseas suppliers. Furthermore, the high-modulus line creates new opportunities for advanced manufacturing applications.

According to Jin Liang, head of a 30,000-tonne carbon fiber production base in Lianyungang under China National Building Material Group Co., the facilities focus primarily on high-end carbon fiber products. He said carbon fiber weighs only one-fifth as much as steel while offering eight times the strength, allowing aerospace and low-altitude aircraft to reduce their weight by around 20 per cent.

Industry Moves Towards High-End Growth

The launch of the three production lines fills important gaps in China’s domestic high-end carbon fiber manufacturing capacity and strengthens self-sufficiency across the full range of product categories. As a result, the industry is expected to move beyond competition based on production scale towards technology-driven and higher-value growth.

Zhang Hui, secretary-general of the carbon fiber composite materials branch of the Chinese Society for Composite Materials, said China’s carbon fiber industry has shown a clear shift towards high-end products in 2026. He added that the sector is increasingly meeting demand from aerospace, the low-altitude economy and new energy industries.

Zhang also projected that China’s carbon fiber production capacity will exceed 200,000 tonnes in 2026, while total output is expected to surpass 100,000 tonnes.

With inputs from Reuters