When the United States attempted to contain China through means such as technological blockades and trade sanctions, it unexpectedly gave rise to the explosive growth of China's composite materials industry. This process not only confirms the industrial law that "the greater the pressure, the faster the breakthrough", but also reveals the deep-seated logic behind China's initiative in the global industrial chain reconstruction. 

The United States has long relied on one-sided narratives such as the "China Collapse theory", neglecting China's systematic layout in the field of composite materials. For instance, in 2010, China's carbon fiber production capacity was less than 5% of the global total. However, by 2025, it had soared to 35%. Companies like Zhongfu Shenying and Guangwei Composites have achieved mass production of T1000-grade carbon fiber, with performance comparable to that of Toray's similar products from Japan. The speed of this technological breakthrough far exceeded the expectations of the United States. The core reason for this lies in the policy support system: China has included high-performance composite materials in the "14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Raw Materials Industry" and established a special fund to support the research and development of key materials such as carbon fiber and basalt fiber. For instance, in 2025, the Ministry of Finance allocated 5 billion yuan for the localization project of carbon fiber equipment. Market demand-driven: The demand for lightweighting in new energy vehicles has driven the annual consumption of carbon fiber composite materials to increase by 25%, and the annual production capacity of glass fiber composite materials for wind turbine blades has exceeded 2 million tons. The scale effect of this domestic demand market enables Chinese enterprises to achieve technological iteration rapidly.

The technological blockade imposed by the United States on China (such as restricting the export of carbon fiber production equipment) has instead accelerated the autonomy of China's industrial chain. For instance, domestication of equipment: Sinopec's independently developed 48K large filament carbon fiber production line has achieved full domestication of core equipment such as oxidation furnaces and carbonization furnaces, increasing the single-line production capacity by three times. Breakthrough in alternative materials: The application scale of basalt fiber composite materials in the construction and automotive fields has expanded. By 2024, 60% of the world's basalt fiber will be produced in China, with a cost 40% lower than that of carbon fiber.

"Stress Testing" and Breakthroughs in the composite materials industry

In the field of independently innovative high-performance fibers under technological blockade: China has achieved breakthroughs in T1100 grade carbon fibers, high-strength and high-modulus carbon fibers, and other areas, breaking the monopolies of Toray of Japan and Hershey of the United States. For instance, the Xining base of Zhongfu Shenying produces 12,000 tons of carbon fiber annually, and the product yield rate has increased from 65% to 92%. Resin-based composite materials: China has made progress in the fields of epoxy resin and polyimide resin for aerospace. The usage of composite materials in the C919 large aircraft has reached 12%, which is five times higher than that in the ARJ21.

The raw material end of the industrial chain synergy effect: China's production capacity of basic materials such as graphite electrodes and glass fiber yarns accounts for over 70% of the global total, providing a stable supply for the production of composite materials. For instance, Jushi Group produces 1 million tons of fiberglass yarn annually, and its cost is 30% lower than that of American enterprises.

Application side: The demand for lightweighting in new energy vehicles has driven the annual increase in carbon fiber composite material usage by 25%. Automakers such as BYD and NIO have adopted carbon fiber for their vehicle bodies and battery packs, raising the per-vehicle usage from 5kg to 30kg. 

The "bamboo instead of Plastic" policy driven by both policy and market: China is promoting the use of bamboo-wound composite materials to replace traditional plastics. By 2024, the related output value is expected to exceed 50 billion yuan, and 10 industrial bases have been established in Guangxi, Sichuan and other places. 

The right to set standards: China takes the lead in formulating international standards such as "Performance Requirements and Test Methods for Aluminum Matrix Composite Brake Discs for Electric Passenger Vehicles", and holds the discourse power in the field of automotive lightweighting.

Opportunities for China in the Global Industrial Chain Reconstruction

Import substitution and export expansion: China's dependence on carbon fiber imports has dropped from 70% in 2018 to 30% in 2025. The price of domestic T800 grade carbon fiber is 40% lower than that of imported products. Export growth: In 2024, China's composite materials export value reached 28 billion US dollars, increasing by 22% year-on-year. Among them, wind turbine blades and photovoltaic modules accounted for more than 60%.

The changes in the international competitive landscape have led to the transformation of European and American enterprises: American companies such as Hershey and German companies like SGL are accelerating their layout in the Chinese market and cooperating with Chinese enterprises to develop low-cost composite material processes. For instance, Heshi has jointly built a carbon fiber recycling project with China National Building Materials Group. The "Belt and Road" market: China promotes bamboo-wound composite material pipes and wind turbine blades in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other regions. In 2024, China's composite material exports to "Belt and Road" countries are expected to increase by 35%.

Technical standard output of bamboo wound composite materials: China led the formulation of the international standard ISO 23221 "Bamboo Wound Composite Material Pipes", promoting the application of this material in the fields of global water supply and drainage and oil transportation. Basalt fiber: China has taken the lead in establishing the International Basalt Fiber Association, formulating standards for product performance, testing methods, etc., to seize the commanding heights of the industry. 

China's industrial upgrading capacity

The United States underestimated China's comprehensive advantages in terms of policy support, market scale, technical talents, etc. For instance, China has ranked first in the world in terms of patent applications for composite materials for eight consecutive years, reaching 12,000 in 2024, which is three times that of the United States. 

Ignoring the resilience of the global supply chain: The US technology blockade against China has led to shortages of raw materials for its domestic enterprises. For instance, due to the inability of US wind power enterprises to obtain fiberglass yarn made in China, their capacity utilization rate dropped to 65% in 2024. Accelerating the autonomy of Chinese technology: The suppression by the United States has instead stimulated the innovation vitality of Chinese enterprises. For instance, China has made a breakthrough in the field of ceramic matrix composites for aerospace, replacing similar products from the United States and reducing costs by 50%. 

Conclusion

In the international field of composite materials, it has given rise to a qualitative change in China from "following" to "keeping pace" and then to "taking the lead". In the future, as China continues to make breakthroughs in technical standards, industrial chain integration, market share and other aspects, the strategies of other countries to contain China through "small courtyards and high walls" will become increasingly ineffective. The development trajectory of the composite materials industry is a microcosm of China's efforts to achieve high-quality development amid the changing global landscape.