Category: Industry Insights

Price Trend Daily Report — July 24, 2026

Key takeaway: Carbon fiber has entered a price-hike cycle driven by surging acrylonitrile (AN) feedstock costs — the top item to watch this week. PTFE and technical ceramic raw materials remain weak-but-stable; PEEK and PI film prices are flat with notable structural divergence.

Price Overview

Key Movements

• Carbon fiber: large-tow grades +3–4%. T300(24/25K) and T300(48/50K) each rose RMB 3/kg this week. The core driver is persistently rising acrylonitrile prices — supply cuts in North America and the Middle East combined with resilient demand from ABS and carbon fiber in China. Jilin Chemical Fiber has announced price increases across its carbon fiber product lines. Although industry inventory remains elevated (~15,700 t), cost-push price hikes are now an established trend.
• PTFE: consolidating sideways. Latest Shandong quote for suspension medium-granule resin is RMB 31,800/t, with the 30-day range narrowing within RMB 30,000–48,000/t. Downstream offtake is moderate; environmental production curbs provide a supply-side floor. Short-term outlook: stable.
• PEEK: flat quotes, domestic substitution capping upside. Imported grades (Victrex, Solvay) hold at RMB 800–1,500/kg; domestic grades at RMB 200–400/kg. Lightweighting demand from robotics and eVTOL is growing ~8–10% per year, but capacity expansion by domestic producers offsets upward price momentum.

Impact Analysis

• Procurement costs: Carbon fiber cost pressure is likely to persist — the AN rally is hard to break near term. Composite, wind-blade and sporting-goods manufacturers should expect Q3 procurement costs to rise 3–8%. PTFE and ceramic raw materials remain buyer-friendly.
• Supply chain: High-end PI film (electronic grade, flexible display) remains heavily import-dependent (DuPont, UBE, Kaneka, SK), with highly concentrated supply. Disruption risk outweighs price risk under geopolitical or trade friction; dual sourcing is advised for critical programs.

Action Recommendations

• Lock in prices: Carbon fiber (especially T300 large-tow and T700). Leading producers have initiated hikes, and once AN inventory buffers (only 3–4 months at some producers) are depleted, a second round of increases is possible. Recommend securing Q3–Q4 long-term contracts.
• Wait and see: PTFE and technical ceramic raw materials — weak supply and demand, bottom-range consolidation. Buy as needed; no need to pre-stock.
• Watch: Domestic PEEK substitution opportunities as local prices trend down; qualification testing of domestic high-end PI film suppliers (e.g., Rayitek, Goldenmax).

Sources: Chemicalbook, Baiinfo, Oilchem, Mysteel, JLC and other public market data. Prices are mainstream market quotes; actual transactions subject to negotiation.

Key Takeaways

• PEEK: Driven by humanoid robot volume expectations, search interest stays at highs. PEEK offers 8x the specific strength of aluminum alloy at half the density; humanoid robot shipments are projected to grow at ~83% CAGR from 2024-2030 (Omdia) – the strongest demand narrative in advanced materials right now.
• Carbon Fiber: Toray raised TORAYCA carbon fiber and prepreg prices by 10-20% starting January 2026. The price-hike effect is propagating downstream, and combined queries like “carbon fiber + low-altitude economy / wind power / robotics” are trending up.
• Electronic Chemicals: Wet electronic chemicals capacity expansion continues (Crystal Clear Electronic, Jianghua Micro, Grandit and others announcing fundraising projects); domestic substitution remains the core logic. China’s market is expected to exceed RMB 20 billion by 2027.
• Aerogel: Global market projected at ~8.6% CAGR over the next six years, driven mainly by construction and EV battery thermal insulation.
• PTFE: PFAS regulatory pressure persists (3M exiting PFAS products). Keywords like “PTFE alternative” and “PFAS compliance” show low competition with clear intent – a content opportunity window.
• Advanced Ceramics: Steady demand growth from semiconductor equipment and aerospace; export-oriented content targeting Southeast Asia and India deserves more investment.

Keyword Heat & Competition Analysis

Trend Interpretation

1. The robotics materials chain is the strongest traffic gateway. PEEK, carbon fiber and advanced ceramics can all hook into the humanoid robot narrative; explicitly bind “robot” scenario terms in titles to capture incremental traffic.

2. Price-hike cycles create procurement-side search demand. After Toray’s price increase, overseas buyers show clear intent searching for Chinese carbon fiber alternative suppliers – a B2B lead-gen window expected to last 2-3 quarters.

3. Compliance long-tail keywords offer the best ROI. PFAS-related terms have low competition and sit close to purchasing decisions – deploy quickly.

Today’s Action Items

1. Produce an in-depth article this week: “PEEK Machining Essentials for Robot Joint Components” (bilingual CN/EN).
2. Build an English landing page: “Chinese Carbon Fiber Supplier Comparison” responding to Toray’s price hike.
3. Launch a PFAS compliance series covering search intent of PTFE downstream application customers.

2026-07-23 Industry Exhibition Opportunity Scan

I. Upcoming Exhibitions

II. Top Recommendations

• TFE China (Oct, Shanghai): The only vertical exhibition precisely targeting PTFE, amplified by the 50k+ professional visitor flow of the CIIF advanced-materials show, with downstream coverage in semiconductors, chemicals, automotive, and electronics. Action: contact the organizer this week to secure a 9 sqm standard booth (budget ¥30k–50k); booths are first-come, first-served.
• Carbon Fiber 2026 (Nov, USA): The most concentrated gathering of carbon-fiber and composites OEM decision-makers globally — ideal for high-end customer development and brand internationalization. Action: complete registration by end of August (attendee pass reference $1,000–1,500), evaluate booth/sponsorship options, and apply for a US visa early.
• Shanghai Fluoroplastic Chain Exhibition (Dec, Shanghai): Dual theme of fluoroplastics + semiconductors brings high-quality, highly relevant downstream buyers. Action: pair it with the October TFE show as a “H2 combo,” and request booth pricing as early as possible.

III. Registration Alerts

• China Composites Expo 2026 (Sep 1–3) is imminent — sprint this week if booths remain; visitor pre-registration is near closing.
• TFE China / CIIF (October) booths are first-come, first-served — aim to lock by end of August.
• Carbon Fiber 2026 early-bird pricing typically closes 1–2 months before the event — watch the August–September window.

IV. Cost Estimates

• Booth cost reference: Domestic standard booth ~¥20k–50k / 9 sqm; raw space ~¥1,500–3,000 / sqm (plus build-out); international conference exhibiting/sponsorship by quote, attendee pass reference $1,000–1,500.
• Travel budget reference: Domestic (Shanghai/Guangzhou) ~¥5k–10k per person (airfare + lodging); Huntsville, USA ~¥25k–35k per person (intl. airfare, lodging, visa).

Note: Some booth fees and registration deadlines are subject to final organizer announcements; verify via official channels before committing.

2026-07-23 Daily New-Material Price Trend Report

Price Overview

Key Movers

• Specialty ceramic raw materials (zirconia) — biggest mover this period. On July 20, Sinocera (国瓷材料) announced it will raise zirconia powder prices by 10%–40% effective July 27, citing sustained increases in raw/material costs and tight supply-demand. Zirconium oxychloride ((Zr+Hf)O₂≥36%) reference price stands at CNY 18,750/t, up ~+5.6% week-on-week.
• Carbon fiber — firm-to-rising. Toray lifted TORAYCA prices 10%–20% from Jan 2026; Jilin Chemical Fiber raised its 12TK and 3K lines by CNY 5,000/t and CNY 10,000/t respectively. Coupled with surging wind-blade and aerospace demand (2025 apparent consumption +71.89% YoY), prices have an upside bias.
• PTFE resin — soft. Thin trading and sluggish shipments pushed Shandong suspension-grade quotes toward CNY 31,800/t (near the 30-day low), while regional dispersion resin still holds around CNY 50,000/t — indicating divergence and a downward center of gravity.
• PEEK / PI film — mildly stronger. PEEK benefits from robotics, eVTOL, semiconductor and wind lightweighting demand, with domestic substitution accelerating (domestic share projected to reach ~60% in 2026). High-end PI electronic film remains severely supply-constrained and import-dependent, keeping quotes stable-to-firm.

Impact Analysis

• Procurement cost: Zirconia-based inputs (structural ceramics, dental, electronic packaging) will see material cost increases — lock prices now. Carbon fiber and PEEK cost bases are also rising, requiring BOM re-evaluation.
• Supply chain: High-end PI electronic film and zirconia supply is highly concentrated and import-reliant, raising stock-out and lead-time risks. PEEK localization helps partially offset import dependence.
• Macro backdrop: Crude oil has rebounded from recent lows (WTI ~USD 81.7/bbl, Brent ~USD 88/bbl); petrochemical downstream costs such as acrylonitrile are rising, providing cost support for carbon fiber and PEEK. PTFE, however, remains suppressed by loose supply, limiting cost pass-through.

Action Recommendations

• Lock in: Zirconia powder and zirconium oxychloride (price hike effective July 27 — secure orders/long-term contracts immediately); carbon fiber long-term agreements and strategic inventory.
• Watch / wait: PTFE resin (soft — accumulate on dips in batches); standard PI film (stable — purchase to demand).

# Daily New Materials Keyword Heat Analysis Report
**Date: July 23, 2026 | Categories monitored: PTFE, PEEK, Carbon Fiber, Advanced Ceramics, Electronic Chemicals, Aerogel**

## 1. Key Takeaways
1. **High heat, high growth**: PEEK (humanoid robots + NEV dual driver) and electronic chemicals (AI compute + import substitution) sit in the sweet spot of both search heat and demand growth.
2. **Price rebound**: After a prior ~50% price crash, carbon fiber leaders raised prices 10%–20% from January 2026, with market attention and procurement heat bouncing back.
3. **Diverging landscape**: Traditional PTFE segments (real estate / general seals) are under pressure, but electronic-grade PTFE is entering volume production driven by high-frequency/high-speed compute demand; PFAS environmental scrutiny is accelerating green substitution.
4. **Import-substitution mainline**: Advanced ceramics (semiconductor equipment parts localization rate only ~19%) and electronic chemicals (semiconductor wet electronic chemicals localization only 8%) offer the largest substitution headroom with the strongest policy certainty.
5. **Emerging blue ocean**: Aerogel is rapidly expanding from industrial pipe insulation into EV battery thermal-runaway protection and green buildings; global market ~US$1.9B in 2026.

## 2. Keyword Heat–Competition–Trend Matrix

| Category | Heat (1-5) | Competition (1-5) | Trend | Core Driver |
|—|—|—|—|—|
| PTFE | 4 | 3 | Diverging | High-frequency compute, PFAS green substitution |
| PEEK | 5 | 4 | Strong rise | Humanoid robots, 800V motors, lightweighting |
| Carbon Fiber | 4 | 4 | Price rebound | Wind-turbine upsizing, leader price hikes |
| Aerogel | 4 | 3 | Rising | Battery insulation, green buildings |
| Advanced Ceramics | 3 | 4 | Substitution rise | Localization of semiconductor equipment parts |
| Electronic Chemicals | 5 | 5 | Strong rise | AI compute, advanced nodes, import substitution |

> Heat = combined search / supply-demand attention; Competition = content / supplier intensity (5 = highest).

## 3. Category Detail

### 1. PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)
– Heat 4/5 | Competition 3/5 | Trend: Diverging
– Key data: 2025 global market exceeded US$3.0B; downstream petrochemical 33%, machinery 24%, electronics 12%; electronic-grade PTFE flagged by CICC as a core high-frequency/high-speed compute material, under validation for NVIDIA Rubin ultra orthogonal backplanes.
– Risk: Tightening global PFAS scrutiny pressures traditional fluoropolymer products.
– Recommended keywords (high intent): electronic-grade PTFE, PTFE high-frequency PCB, PFAS-free eco-coating, custom PTFE seals, semiconductor PTFE, PTFE closed-loop recycling

### 2. PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone)
– Heat 5/5 | Competition 4/5 | Trend: Strong rise
– Key data: 2024 China market RMB 1.455B (+21.14%), output 3,812 t (+22.2%); global could reach RMB 8.5B by 2027; humanoid robots (XPeng Iron, 2026 mass production, joint modules −40% weight, +35% efficiency) open a new curve; 800V motor enameled wire domestic space RMB 886M by 2027.
– Recommended keywords: PEEK humanoid robot, CF/PEEK aerospace composite, PEEK 800V enameled wire, PEEK lightweight substitution, PEEK localization, medical-grade PEEK

### 3. Carbon Fiber
– Heat 4/5 | Competition 4/5 | Trend: Price rebound
– Key data: Wind blades = 48.5% of global usage, 100% penetration in 10MW+ turbine main beams; Toray +10%–20% from Jan 2026, Jilin Chemical wet 12K/3K +RMB 5k–10k/t; chopped carbon fiber ~US$450M in 2026 (CAGR 11.1%).
– Recommended keywords: large-tow carbon fiber, carbon fiber wind blade, carbon fiber price hike, Jilin Chemical carbon fiber, carbon fiber prepreg, recycled chopped carbon fiber

### 4. Aerogel
– Heat 4/5 | Competition 3/5 | Trend: Rising
– Key data: 2025 global ~US$1.776B, 2026 ~US$1.9B; silica aerogel >90%; battery thermal-runaway protection adopted by CATL, FinDreams, CALB, Gotion, Sunwoda; 2026 mix: oil & gas 47%, construction 14%, transport 13%.
– Recommended keywords: aerogel battery insulation, EV battery aerogel, silica aerogel, aerogel green building, aerogel mass-production cost-down, multi-component aerogel

### 5. Advanced Ceramics
– Heat 3/5 | Competition 4/5 | Trend: Substitution rise
– Key data: Pan-semiconductor advanced structural ceramics China ~RMB 12.5B by 2026 (CAGR 14%), localization only ~19%; semiconductor equipment ceramic parts substitution imperative; 2022 China specialty ceramics market RMB 92.2B, over RMB 100B in 2023.
– Recommended keywords: semiconductor precision ceramics, advanced structural ceramics, ceramic parts localization, aluminum nitride ceramic substrate, zirconia specialty ceramics, ceramic 3D printing

### 6. Electronic Chemicals
– Heat 5/5 | Competition 5/5 | Trend: Strong rise
– Key data: 2026 China wet electronic chemicals ~RMB 18.183B (CAGR 12%+), IC manufacturing demand >1.1M t; semiconductor localization only 8%; photoresist RMB 8.14B (2019) → RMB 11.44B (2024); domestic electronic specialty gas RMB 26.25B in 2024. The “Petrochemical Stabilization Work Plan (2025-2026)” strengthens high-end supply.
– Recommended keywords: wet electronic chemicals, photoresist import substitution, electronic specialty gas, CMP polishing materials, high-purity precursor, semiconductor electronic chemicals

## 4. Today’s Long-tail Keyword Layout (Top 8)
1. Electronic-grade PTFE applications in high-frequency servers
2. PEEK lightweight solutions for humanoid robot joint modules
3. Large-tow carbon fiber wind-blade main-beam penetration
4. Aerogel EV-battery thermal-runaway protection solutions
5. Semiconductor equipment precision ceramic parts substitution
6. 2026 wet electronic chemicals IC-manufacturing demand
7. PFAS-free eco-friendly PTFE coating alternatives
8. Carbon fiber prepreg price trend 2026

## 5. Action Recommendations
– **Content priority**: This week focus on PEEK (humanoid robots) and electronic chemicals (import substitution) — the highest-heat topics — to capture the search window.
– **Differentiation**: For PTFE avoid the generic-word red ocean; attack “PFAS-free” and “electronic-grade” niches. For aerogel attack the “battery insulation” scenario keyword.
– **Monitoring alert**: Track carbon-fiber price-hike magnitude and Toray / Jilin Chemical adjustment rhythm as a B2B procurement-heat signal.