Accelerated Technological Iteration, Breakthroughs in Key Bottlenecks for High-End Products
In the first half of 2026, technological innovation in the silicone fabric softener field entered a period of concentrated implementation. A newly disclosed polysiloxane modification patent from a leading domestic company, through a two-step process of piperazine coupling reaction and hydrosilylation, produces a novel material with deepening, softening, and wash-resistant properties. It forms a uniform, non-greasy film on the fabric surface, significantly improves fiber bonding strength, and achieves a stable deepening rate of over 30%, surpassing the overall performance of traditional imported auxiliaries.
Meanwhile, the market penetration rate of narrow molecular weight distribution amino silicone oils continues to rise. High-purity products prepared using active anionic polymerization technology have reached a 35% application share in the high-end home textile market, an increase of 18 percentage points compared to 2022, completely solving the long-standing industry pain points of easy migration and staining of traditional products.
The market is experiencing robust supply and demand, with prices and exports rising in tandem. Continued upgrading of downstream consumption has driven steady growth in industry demand. In 2024, the consumption of hydrophilic silicone softeners in the apparel manufacturing sector reached 201,000 tons, with the sportswear and casual wear sectors showing the fastest growth. Overall consumption is projected to exceed 210,000 tons in 2025. The export market has also performed strongly, with Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America contributing nearly 98% of exports. Total industry exports are expected to reach 173,000 tons in 2025, representing a year-on-year growth of over 8%.
After a period of rising raw material and environmental costs, prices have gradually returned to a rational range. Currently, the market price of mainstream civilian-grade products is stable at 12-25 yuan/kg, while high-end functional products maintain a higher premium. The entire industry is accelerating its transformation from homogeneous, low-price competition to a more refined, high-value-added development direction.