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Mounting demand for high quality industrial-use chemical fibers in China will spur a sharp growth in the country's import of the materials in the coming 10 years, industry sources say.
China is expected to need more than 2.8 million tons of new-type chemical fibers, particularly high performing, functional and specialty fibers, for industrial use in 2010.
According to rough statistics, the country consumed 1.9 million tons of chemical fibers for industrial purposes last year, compared with 530,000 tons in 1988.
As the world's largest chemical fiber producer, China still suffers from a short supply of industrial-use fibers with high quality and high performance.
Currently, China imports more than 1,500 tons of chemical fibers, including carbon fiber, annually from Japan, the Netherlands and the United States. But the imports are still not enough to meet the big domestic demand.
China will need much more industrial-use new-type chemical fibers for medical purposes, the automotive industry, infrastructure construction projects and the environmental protection industry, according to Xu Pu, honorary president of the China Association for Non-woven Fabrics and Textiles for Industrial Use.
More industrial-use chemical fibers will also be needed by agricultural, construction, military and sports sectors, he added.
International manufacturers of industrial-use textiles are eyeing the promising development prospects of such products in China. Most of the world top 10 non-woven fabric manufacturers have reportedly established production facilities in the country.
(Xinhua News Agency October 6, 2002)
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