State-owned enterprise breakthroughs in ultra-high strength carbon fiber technology, domestic localization rate may exceed 90% by 2026

According to People’s Daily, on March 11, China National Building Material Group’s subsidiary, China National Chemical Fiber Corporation, globally launched the SYT80 (T1200 grade) ultra-high-strength carbon fiber, achieving stable mass production of hundreds of tons, making it the world’s first mass-produced product at this level.

The global debut and mass production of T1200-grade ultra-high-strength carbon fiber by China National Chemical Fiber mark a major breakthrough in China’s high-end new materials sector. It signifies that China has completely broken the 40-year-long technological monopoly and export restrictions held by Japan and the U.S. in the high-end carbon fiber field.

T1200-grade carbon fiber belongs to the ultra-high-strength category, with a tensile strength exceeding 8,000 MPa, a density of only 1.8 g/cm³, and a weight about a quarter of steel but over ten times the strength. Its single filament diameter is less than one-tenth of a human hair. It can be widely used in aerospace, low-altitude economy, wind power, hydrogen energy storage and transportation, and other strategic emerging fields.

The mass production of this high-end material not only fills China’s gap in T1200-grade carbon fiber production but also promotes the transformation of China’s carbon fiber industry from “leading in mid-to-low-end capacity” to “leading in high-end technology.” According to industry reports, China’s domestic carbon fiber rate is expected to reach 90% by 2026, and this mass production will further accelerate this process.

Looking ahead, as the hundreds-of-tons production line becomes operational, the cost of T1200-grade carbon fiber will gradually decrease. Coupled with booming demand from downstream sectors such as low-altitude economy, commercial spaceflight, and new energy, the industry is expected to enter a high-growth cycle of rising volume and prices. Meanwhile, domestic companies will accelerate high-end model iterations, promoting the application of carbon fiber in humanoid robots, large wind turbine blades, and other emerging scenarios. It is estimated that by 2026, China’s total demand for carbon fiber will exceed 200,000 tons, growing over 20% year-on-year, with high-end products accounting for 60%.

Specifically in the A-share market, this event has significantly boosted risk appetite for carbon fiber and related upstream and downstream sectors. It directly benefits core carbon fiber producers, with leading companies that possess technological barriers and capacity advantages continuing to benefit from domestic substitution and high industry prosperity. Capital will focus on technologically advanced targets with strong customer resources, driving valuation and performance improvements in related sectors. (Everbright Securities Micro News)