Latest Development Trends in the Silicone Industry in 2026

2026-08-12


In 2026, China's silicone industry will bid farewell to the past phase of overcapacity and stagnation, ushering in a critical period of cyclical recovery and industrial upgrading. The industry's development focus will shift from scale expansion to high-end and green-oriented growth.


On the supply side, there is no new capacity addition for domestic silicone monomers at present. Industry players continue to advance coordinated emission reductions, improving the supply-demand balance through rational adjustments in production rates, leading to market prices returning to a reasonable range and restored profitability for enterprises. The global production capacity landscape is undergoing continuous reshaping, with overseas giants gradually scaling back basic silicone capacity while expanding their specialty silicone offerings. Liquid silicone rubber and engineering silicone have emerged as key focus areas, intensifying global competition for high-end production capacity. Domestic leading enterprises are accelerating breakthroughs in high-end products, with medical-grade and electronic-grade silicone products progressively achieving pilot-scale trials and commercialization, driving faster progress in import substitution.


On the demand side, there is a clear structural divergence, with demand in traditional sectors like construction remaining stable, while new energy vehicles, photovoltaics, and computing electronics emerge as core growth drivers. The high-voltage platform for new energy vehicles drives increased demand for battery potting and thermal sealing materials, while upgrades in photovoltaic modules boost the consumption of high-performance sealants. Additionally, liquid cooling in data centers and semiconductor packaging open new application spaces for silicones, with emerging sectors continuously unlocking incremental growth.


Policies and overseas compliance continue to drive industrial upgrading, with domestic clean production policies promoting corporate carbon emission reduction. The EU REACH regulation's restrictions on cyclic siloxanes have officially taken effect, compelling companies to optimize formulations and processes, making high-purity silicone products a mandatory export requirement. Meanwhile, the cancellation of export tax rebates for low-end products further guides companies to reduce price competition and transition toward high-value-added deep processing.
Overall, the silicone industry is in a cyclical recovery phase, with future competition focusing on breakthroughs in specialty material technologies, green production, and overseas compliance capabilities. The shift toward high-end transformation will serve as the core development theme for enterprises in the long term.