New Materials Industry Competitor Dynamics Weekly Report (May 2nd Week, 2026)

1. Competitor Dynamics Overview

Competitor	Key Developments	Date	Impact Level
————	——————	——	————–
Celanese	Restructuring nylon business, closing Singapore plant	2026-05-05	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Zhongyan Co., Ltd.	PEEK sales exceeded 1,000 tons, gross margin over 50%	2026-Q1	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Xinhang New Materials	2 billion yuan investment in PEEK integration project	2026-05	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Victrex	LMPAEK™ polymer technology advancement	Ongoing	⭐⭐⭐

2. Key Developments Details

1. Celanese — Business Restructuring, Optimizing Global Layout

Key Actions:

• Announced nylon business restructuring on May 5, closing Singapore nylon 66 plant (expected to cease operations by end of July)
• Optimizing nylon 66 polymer production facilities in Richmond, Virginia and Washington, West Virginia, USA
• Advancing liquid crystal polymer business in China, enhancing specialty compounds production capacity in Europe
• Launching new medical-grade composite material products in Asia, optimizing product structure and localizing production in India

Strategic Intent:

By closing high-cost production capacity and optimizing global production layout, Celanese aims to build a more competitive and robust development platform. Meanwhile, strengthening layout in high-end fields such as specialty materials and medical materials.

Industry Impact:

The reduction in nylon 66 production capacity may lead to short-term supply tightness and upward price pressure. However, Celanese’s strengthening in specialty materials field will intensify competition in high-end markets.

2. Zhongyan Co., Ltd. (688716) — Consolidating PEEK Leadership, Improving Profitability Quality

Financial Performance:

• PEEK global sales exceeded 1,000 tons for the first time in 2025, achieving a historic breakthrough
• Q1 2026 sales gross margin reached 50.64%, up more than 13 percentage points YoY
• Q1 2026 operating revenue was 65.6291 million yuan, up 1.65% YoY
• Net cash inflow from operating activities was 1.2942 million yuan, successfully turning positive

R&D Investment:

• 2025 R&D expenditure was 44.245 million yuan, accounting for 16.05% of operating revenue
• R&D personnel increased by 80, up 105.26% YoY
• Added 6 new patents (4 invention patents)

Competitive Situation:

Zhongyan Co., Ltd. has obvious advantages in technology accumulation and production capacity scale in the PEEK field. The significant increase in gross margin demonstrates product competitiveness and cost control capabilities. However, note that net profit attributable to parent company is still negative, and the profit inflection point still needs observation.

3. Xinhang New Materials (301076) — Vertical Integration Layout, Building PEEK Industry Base

Major Project:

• Total investment of 2 billion yuan in Yilite high-performance resin and composite materials project by wholly-owned subsidiary
• Constructed in two phases, focusing on high-end PEEK and thermoplastic composite materials
• Will form an integrated “core monomer — high-performance resin — composite materials” industry chain

Strategic Significance:

Through vertical integration layout, Xinhang New Materials will enhance industry chain autonomy and controllability, reduce raw material price fluctuation risks, and strengthen comprehensive competitiveness in the PEEK field.

Market Reaction:

As of May 7, Xinhang New Materials’ stock price rose about 6.48% this week, with main capital net inflow of 12.8586 million yuan, indicating market optimism about its integration layout.

4. Victrex — Continuous Technological Innovation, LMPAEK™ Polymer Advancement

Technology Progress:

• Continuously advancing LMPAEK™ polymer technology, achieving significant improvements in processing efficiency
• Excellent strength performance enhancement, effectively reducing traditional manufacturing system costs
• Providing sustainable alternative solutions for PFAS issues

Market Positioning:

As a global leader in PEEK materials, Victrex maintains technological leadership advantages in high-end application fields (aerospace, automotive, medical).

3. Competitive Situation Assessment

1. Market Structure

• International Giants: Celanese, Victrex, etc. continue to maintain technological advantages in high-end markets
• Domestic Leaders: Zhongyan Co., Ltd., Xinhang New Materials, etc. are accelerating import substitution through capacity expansion and technological breakthroughs
• Competition Focus: Shifting from production scale to technology content, product quality, and customization capabilities

2. Technology Trends

• PEEK Materials: Developing towards higher purity and better processing performance
• Composite Materials: Thermoplastic composites becoming a new growth point
• Sustainable Development: Increasing demand for environmentally friendly and recyclable materials

3. Supply Chain Dynamics

• Nylon 66 capacity adjustment may affect upstream raw material supply structure
• PEEK key monomer localization process is accelerating
• Vertical integration has become the strategic choice of leading enterprises

4. Response Recommendations

1. Short-term Strategy (1-3 months)

• Closely monitor the progress of Celanese’s nylon 66 capacity closure, assess the impact on raw material supply
• Track the capacity release rhythm of Zhongyan Co., Ltd. and Xinhang New Materials, predict market supply changes
• Strengthen technology R&D investment, especially in PEEK composite materials and processing technology optimization

2. Medium-term Strategy (3-12 months)

• Consider establishing strategic cooperation with domestic PEEK leading enterprises to ensure supply chain stability
• Layout vertical integration capabilities, at least establish autonomous and controllable capabilities in precursor/monomer segments
• Strengthen high-end application market development, especially in high-growth fields such as medical, semiconductor, and new energy

3. Long-term Strategy (1-3 years)

• Establish global supply chain layout to diversify single supplier risks
• Invest in or acquire key technology teams to accelerate technology breakthroughs
• Participate in industry standard formulation to enhance industry discourse power and brand influence

5. Data Sources and Timeliness

• Data Sources: Public network search (Sogou Search, East Money, Sohu Finance, etc.)
• Data Cutoff: May 10, 2026
• Report Generation: May 11, 2026

---

Report Disclaimer: This report is compiled and analyzed based on public information and is for reference only. Investment decisions should combine professional advice and your own risk tolerance.