March 23, 2025 – An insider from Yangzi Petrochemical revealed that the company’s production and sales volume of lithium battery separator materials exceeded 30,000 tons for the first time last year, successfully establishing itself as a leader in the industry. Since the beginning of this year, the company has actively pursued technological breakthroughs, focusing on improving product consistency and stability, as well as developing new products. As a result, its production and sales volume has increased by 8% year-on-year.
The ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene battery separator material produced by Yangzi Petrochemical is considered one of the best separator materials in terms of comprehensive performance in the domestic market. On December 11th last year, the lithium battery separator resin processing facility and automated packaging system at the Yangzi Petrochemical Research Institute officially came into operation, with the first batch of special resin for lithium battery separators successfully produced. According to sources from the Color Masterbatch Industry Network, Lin Long, Director of the Plastics Center at the Yangzi Petrochemical Research Institute, stated, “This new production facility not only represents the cutting-edge level of current lithium battery separator resin production technology but will also bring new production models and efficiency improvements to the lithium battery industry.”
New materials are a crucial strategic pillar for industrial development. Nanjing has seized the historical opportunity presented by the major adjustments in the global competition landscape of the new materials industry. It is accelerating the upgrading of traditional materials, promoting the commercialization of strategic materials, and strengthening the forward-looking layout of frontier materials, striving to build Nanjing into a significant domestic base for new materials industry.
In the field of chemical new materials, Yangzi Petrochemical’s polyethylene lithium battery separator material has demonstrated outstanding performance. Nanjing Hongbaoli’s polyurethane polyether products, Jiangsu Kent’s high-performance special engineering plastics, and Jiangsu Maida’s antioxidant additives have all achieved import substitution, showcasing strong competitiveness in different areas.
In the field of advanced metal materials, Nanjing, led by Nanjing Iron and Steel Corporation (NISCO) and Meishan Iron and Steel, has respectively formed important high-end premium steel bases domestically and internationally, represented by special steel plates, special steel long products, steel composite materials, and pickling and hot-dip galvanizing products. Companies like Baowu Magnesium and Baotai Special Metals also possess proprietary technology products in the alloy field, with downstream supporting industries such as aerospace, rail transportation, and electronic information. An insider from NISCO introduced, “We are the first enterprise in China to develop 100mm, the world’s thickest crack arrest steel, and 5Ni low-temperature steel. Our ultra-low temperature (-196℃) 9% nickel steel and high-strength wear-resistant steel have both been awarded the National Manufacturing Single Champion.” Among them, 9% nickel steel is widely used in the construction of large LNG storage tanks (resistant to low temperatures), with a global market share exceeding 70%.
In recent years, Nanjing’s steel industry has implemented a high-end premium development strategy, creating an important domestic and international production base for high-performance special steel plates. Products with high added value and high technological content have been increasing, with more than 100 products, such as large-thickness crack arrest steel, reaching international advanced levels. In 2024, the Sunan Special Steel Materials Cluster led by Nanjing stood out in the national advanced manufacturing cluster competition, becoming the only national advanced manufacturing cluster in the steel industry field in China.
In the field of electronic information materials, Nanjing boasts leading enterprises such as Shanjin Optoelectronics, Nanjing Guosheng, Electrical Nitto, and Gaoguang Semiconductor, with product layouts covering multiple areas such as optoelectronic display materials, large-size silicon wafers, and packaging materials. In the field of high-performance membrane materials, it mainly relies on companies like Jiuwu High-Tech, Fiberglass Research Institute, and Beidi New Materials to produce high-end membrane products such as ceramic membranes, glass fiber coated filter materials, and optical films for displays.