Since their debut in the 1960s, polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers have gradually emerged as the dominant sector within the carbon fiber industry, accounting for over 90% of total carbon fiber production. Consequently, the term "carbon fiber" is now generally understood to refer specifically to PAN-based carbon fibers.
In October 2006, Jilin Chemical Fiber initiated research and development efforts for carbon fiber precursors. A dedicated innovation team-comprising company technical staff and university experts-was formed to independently design experimental apparatuses. Following more than 70 technical improvements, equipment modifications, and hundreds of iterative trials, the team successfully produced their first batch of carbon fiber precursors in April 2007. In January 2008, Jilin Chemical Fiber produced 500 kilograms of carbon fiber precursors across 100 spools. By September 2011, a 5,000-ton-per-year carbon fiber precursor production facility was completed and commissioned, marking the realization of large-scale production. As of 2025, the precursor production capacity within Jilin Chemical Fiber's carbon fiber value chain stands at 190,000 tons.
In the spring of 2005, the Institute of Coal Chemistry (ICC) in Shanxi was tasked with the mass production of T300 aerospace-grade carbon fiber. By June 2007, the pilot-scale production of T300 carbon fiber had yielded significant milestone results. On June 30, 2008, the first spool of T300 aerospace-grade carbon fiber-produced through a stable, mass-production process-rolled off the line. In November 2025, the stable mass production of T1000 high-performance carbon fiber was successfully achieved at the Datong base.
Jilin Carbon Valley is an enterprise dedicated to the research, development, production, and sales of PAN-based carbon fiber precursors. Its product portfolio encompasses both small-tow and large-tow carbon fiber precursors. The company currently possesses an annual production capacity of 150,000 tons for carbon fiber precursors. Globally, the leading manufacturers of PAN-based carbon fiber precursors include Toray, Hexcel, Jilin Chemical Fiber Group Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical, and Teijin, among others. As of 2024, the top ten manufacturers worldwide collectively hold approximately 81.0% of the global market share.
