Polyamides (PA)

Nylon 6

In 2000, there were nearly 40 sets of domestic poly- amide (PA) polymerization facilities. The polymerization capacity exceeded 400,000 tons per annum, and actual output was 320,000 tons per annum.

Nylon 66

The domestic apparent consumption of nylon 66 in 2000 was 81,200t, and the output was over 100,000t.

Shenma Group plans to expand its output to 120,000 tons per annum, and its resin cutting capacity to 35,000 tons per annum, and to bring the facilities on stream at the end of 2003.

Other nylon products

The production of long carbon-chain nylon PA 11 and PA 12 for brake pipes and oil transmitting pipes has exceeded 2,000 tons per annum: the raw materials for these are all imported. In order to meet the require-ments of the domestic market, the National Planning Committee has approved the setting up of a PA 11 unit in Shanxi using the technology of North China Technological College, and the setting up of a PA1212 unit in Zhengzhou, He'nan. These units, together with the transformation of the PA1212 unit of the former Shandong Zibo Mining Bureau, currently under construction, will, when completed, certainly meet the domestic market requirements for long chain nylon.

Table 6.4.1: Demand in recent years (thousand tons per annum)

	1998	1999	2000	2001 (estimated)	2005 ( predicted )	Average growth
PA	62	67	83	92	165	23.7
PC	87	130	164	178	226	22.8
POM	66	82.4	96	98	130	13.8
PBT/PET	24	35.6	41	44	57	19.6
MPPO	5.7	9	8	8.8	10	10.7
ABS		1,434	1,490	1,520 1	,600
Total	244.7	324	392	426.8	590	20.0

Table 6.4.2: Output of main Nylon 6 enterprises

Enterprise	Output (thousand tons per annum)
Guangdong Xinhui Meida Polyamide Fibre Co Ltd	66
Zhejiang Cixi Jinlun Co	60
Yueyang Petrochemical Plant	45
Yingshan Petrochemical Plant	13
Shijiazhuang Chemical Fibre Co	25
Kaiping Polyamide Fibre Plant	10
Yantai Huarun Co	5
Qingdao Zhongda Chemical Fibre Plant	6
Shunde Nylon 6 Plant	7
Gaoyao Nylon 6 Plant	13
Qingdao State-owned Cotton Plant	12
Zhangjiagang Junma Polyamide Plant	30
Qingjiang Synthetic Fibre Plant	4
Ji'nan Chemical Fibre Plant	4

Table 6.4.3: Output of main Nylon 66 cutting resin enterprises

Enterprise	Output (tons per annum)
Henan Shenma Group	1,700
Shanghai No.18 Plastics Plant	300
Heilongjiang Nylon Plant	5,000
Liaoyang Petrochemical Company	10,000
Shanghai Celluloid Plant	200
Haian Nylon Plant	800

The research achievements in star pattern nylon polymer made by East China University are comparable to those of advanced countries . Research into nano nylon plastics has been attracting the attention of manufacturers across the world. The total global sales volume of nano plastics in the world was 1,000 tons in 1999, all nano nylon plastics. It is predicted that in 2004 the global sales volume of nano plastics will be 125,000 tons, the majority of which will be nylon. The cost of nano nylon plastic bearing pedestals jointly developed by Nanjing Julong Co and Longda Transmission Parts Co is 50 per cent lower than those made of stainless steel . Output of the product has come to 200,000 sets, and has generated US$4 million of exchange exports, having an increased output value of 35 million yuan.