Because UHMWPE fiber offers numerous outstanding properties — ultra-high strength, ultra-high modulus, low density, wear resistance, low-temperature resistance, ultraviolet resistance, shielding resistance, good flexibility, high impact energy absorption and resistance to strong acid and alkali chemical corrosion — it has become a dual-use military and civilian new material, widely used in military equipment, the marine industry, safety protection, sports equipment and other fields.
Figure: Current demand for UHMWPE fiber
In the past and up to now, the main application areas of UHMWPE fiber have been concentrated in high-end fields, which are insensitive to price changes and pursue product quality. However, tightening energy and environmental requirements in the future will force downstream industries to change their product structures; applied research and practice for UHMWPE fiber will unfold in full, and the development of the entire UHMWPE fiber industry will enter a period of accelerated growth. Global demand for UHMWPE fiber is expected to exceed 160,000 tons in 2027.
Figure: Forecast of global UHMWPE fiber industry demand, 2022–2027 (unit: 10,000 tons)
According to incomplete statistics, there are dozens of UHMWPE fiber producers in China, including Shandong Aidi, Beijing Tongyizhong and Yizheng Chemical Fibre, and they are generally small in scale. As of now, the largest UHMWPE fiber producer in China and in the world is XINGI TECH Co., Ltd.
It is reported that after energy-saving potential tapping and technical upgrading of its existing production lines, the company’s actual UHMWPE fiber production capacity can reach 15,000 tons per year, a production scale far exceeding that of other peer companies. Over the next three to five years, XINGI TECH will seize market opportunities, further expand its production capacity, and continuously increase the company’s market share and penetration in the military and other application markets.