2026 China PPS Polyphenylene Sulfide Film Industry Market Size and Investment Prospect Forecast Report
Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) film is a high-performance specialty engineering film, divided into two main categories: biaxially oriented PPS film and cast PPS film . It possesses core characteristics such as high temperature resistance, chemical corrosion resistance, low dielectric loss, flame retardancy, and excellent dimensional stability, making it a key basic material in new energy vehicles, power electronics, chemical filtration, and aerospace. In the past, China relied heavily on overseas manufacturers such as Kureha and Toray Industries of Japan for the supply of high-end PPS film. However, with continuous breakthroughs in domestic resin synthesis and biaxially oriented film-forming processes, domestic companies are gradually achieving industrialization. This article, based on the industry status in 2025, systematically analyzes the domestic PPS film market size, industrial chain structure, competitive landscape, application markets, development bottlenecks, and investment opportunities in 2026, predicting future industry development trends and providing a reference for industry participants and investment institutions.
Keywords : Polyphenylene sulfide film; PPS film; BOPPS; New energy; Specialty film; Market forecast
I. Industry Overview
1.1 Definition and Classification of PPS Thin Films
Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is a special polymer material whose main chain consists of alternating benzene rings and sulfur atoms. PPS films are prepared by extrusion and stretching of PPS resin, and are mainly divided into two categories:
Biaxially oriented PPS film (BOPPS) : Through biaxial stretching process, the molecular chains are oriented, resulting in lower heat shrinkage, higher tensile strength, and better dielectric properties. It is a core material for film capacitors and insulation of new energy motors, with the highest technical barriers, and is also the main direction for domestic substitution.
Cast PPS film : Unidirectional extrusion casting molding, with a low process threshold, can produce thick sheets, is resistant to acid and alkali corrosion, and is often used for anti-corrosion gaskets, heat insulation liners, chemical linings, and die-cut structural parts; the disadvantage is that the heat shrinkage is relatively large, making it unsuitable for high-end electronic capacitor applications.
1.2 Core Performance Characteristics
PPS film can withstand continuous operating temperatures above 200℃ and short-term temperatures up to 260℃; it is halogen-free and flame-retardant, meeting UL94-V0 standards; it is resistant to strong acids, strong alkalis, and organic solvents; it has a stable dielectric constant and low loss at high frequencies; and it is creep-resistant and radiation-resistant. Compared to PI and PET films, PPS film offers superior overall cost-effectiveness under high-temperature conditions, making it the preferred insulation material for new energy power equipment.
1.3 Industry Development Background
Driven by the dual-carbon strategy, new energy vehicles, and the energy storage industry, the demand for high-voltage film capacitors and drive motor insulation materials has exploded. Previously, the high-end BOPPS market was monopolized by Japanese companies, resulting in long supply cycles and high prices. With mature domestic PPS resin production capacity and the localization of biaxially oriented film equipment, domestic companies have achieved mass production of BOPPS in recent years, accelerating the process of domestic substitution.
II. PPS Film Industry Chain Analysis
2.1 Upstream: PPS resin, additives, substrate materials
The core upstream raw material is film-grade high-purity PPS resin , and the domestic supply system for film-grade high-purity PPS resin is gradually improving. Resin purity and low ion content directly determine the reliability of PPS film in the electronic capacitor field. Auxiliary materials include antioxidants, lubricants, release agents, and packaging films required for stretching production. Upstream resin costs account for 60% to 70% of the total film cost, and resin quality is a key factor restricting the mass production of high-end BOPPS.
2.2 Midstream: PPS film manufacturing enterprises
Harsom Advanced Materials S&T Co., Ltd.(harsomam Group): Self-developed PPS functional membranes, and also provides supporting specialty membranes such as PI and PAEK. Customized modified and composite membrane materials are available. Advantages include being a one-stop service provider for specialty membranes, supporting aerospace, new energy, and medical applications. Capable of producing multi-layer composite PPS membranes, suitable for multi-material composite solutions and small-batch high-end customization.
2.3 Downstream Application Market
1. New Energy Sector (Largest Incremental Market) : Insulation for drive motors in new energy vehicles, on-board thin-film capacitors, and high-voltage capacitors for energy storage converters are the core growth tracks for BOPPS thin films.
2. Chemical and environmental protection fields : PPS filter separation membranes are used for flue gas dust removal, chemical material filtration, and hydrogen separation.
3. Aerospace and military industry : High-temperature resistant and radiation-resistant insulating parts, belonging to the high-value-added, small-batch market;
4. 3C Industry : High-temperature resistant gaskets, heat insulation sheets, and die-cut structural parts often use cast PPS film;
5. Others : Special cable insulation, sensor substrate.
III. Industry Status in 2025 and Market Size Forecast for 2026
3.1 Current Market Situation
The domestic PPS film market has long been dominated by imports, with the localization rate of BOPPS (Bipolar Optical Film) being less than 30%. However, with the commissioning of multiple domestic production lines in 2024-2025, the localization rate is rapidly increasing. Driven by downstream demand from new energy vehicles and energy storage, BOPPS film is in short supply; the cast PPS film market is developing steadily and can meet the needs of various customized composite films.
Industry pain points: The yield of high-end ultra-thin BOPPS (8μm and below) is still lower than that of overseas manufacturers; product consistency and batch stability are still far behind those of imports; automotive-grade certification cycle is long, and customer verification cycle is generally 1 to 2 years.
3.2 Market Size Forecast for 2026
1. Overall Market : The domestic PPS film market size was approximately RMB 1.26 billion in 2025; it is projected to reach RMB 1.7219 billion in 2026, representing a year-on-year growth rate of approximately 36% to 51%. This growth is primarily driven by demand for BOPPS (Board of Posts and Parts) for new energy vehicle capacitors and motor insulation.
2. Segmentation : The proportion of BOPPS biaxially oriented films continues to increase, and the BOPPS market is expected to account for more than 65% of the total market size by 2026; customized composite PPS functional films have achieved rapid growth in the high-end niche market due to their differentiated advantages.
3. Domestic production rate forecast : The domestic production rate of BOPPS is expected to increase to 42%~48% in 2026, while the import share will continue to shrink.
Note: This calculation is based on new energy vehicle and energy storage installation plans, domestic thin film enterprise capacity plans, and downstream industry survey data, and does not include exports to overseas markets.
IV. Industry Competitive Landscape Analysis
Domestic representative enterprise: Harsom Advanced Materials S&T Co., Ltd. , specializes in side-layer composite PPS functional films, focusing on customized development, biaxially oriented PPS film (BOPPS), cast PPS film, and provides one-stop solutions for special films, targeting high value-added fields such as aerospace, new energy, and medical.
Overseas manufacturers: Toray Industries of Japan still occupies the high-end market in the field of ultra-thin and ultra-high stability BOPPS, but the price is high and the delivery time is long, and it is being gradually replaced by domestic manufacturers.
Competitive characteristics: High-end BOPPS is a competition of technological barriers, while customized composite PPS film is a competition of differentiated solutions . New entrants to BOPPS need to invest heavily in biaxially oriented production lines, and customer validation cycles are lengthy, resulting in high barriers to entry. The composite modified PPS film sector places more emphasis on material compounding and multi-layer co-extrusion composite development capabilities, making it suitable for small-batch, high-end customized scenarios.
V. Industry Drivers and Restraints
5.1 Driving Factors
The new energy industry is experiencing rapid growth : the demand for high-voltage film capacitors for new energy vehicles and energy storage inverters continues to expand. BOPPS is a new generation of high-temperature resistant capacitor base film that replaces PET and PP films, opening up huge incremental space.
Domestic substitution policy : Support for the localization of high-end new materials, and the downstream power and automotive supply chains actively adopting domestic materials to reduce the risks of overseas supply chains;
PPS resin domestic production is mature : upstream resin self-sufficiency reduces raw material costs and ensures supply chain security;
Application scenarios are expanding : new scenarios such as hydrogen energy, industrial filtration, high-temperature insulation of semiconductors, and medical special substrates are being continuously developed, broadening the market boundaries of PPS films and driving the demand for composite PPS functional films.
5.2 Restraining Factors
Process yield bottleneck : The ultra-thin BOPPS biaxial stretching process is difficult, and the flatness, thickness uniformity and heat shrinkage control of the film are challenging. Improving the mass production yield requires long-term process accumulation.
Long customer certification cycles : The automotive, power, and aerospace industries have stringent material access requirements, and automotive-grade certification and UL certification have long cycles, making it slow for new companies to expand their customer base.
Huge capital investment : BOPPS biaxial stretching production line equipment is expensive, with an investment of hundreds of millions of yuan for a single production line and a long payback period; multilayer composite functional film R&D investment is high and new product development cycle is long.
Competition from alternative materials : PI film and special PP film compete with PPS film in some scenarios, limiting their penetration in those areas.
VI. Investment Prospect Analysis for 2026
6.1 Investment Opportunities
The BOPPS biaxially oriented film sector is promising : strong demand for capacitors in new energy vehicles and motor insulation, huge potential for domestic substitution, and high product added value.
Differentiated composite functional membrane track : Companies represented by Harsom Advanced Materials S&T Co., Ltd. are developing multi-layer PPS composite membranes and modified special membranes, avoiding homogeneous competition from general BOPPS, and targeting the aerospace, medical, and high-end new energy customized markets, with strong product premium capabilities.
Upstream components include : high-purity PPS resin for film production and film-specific additives.
6.2 Investment Risk Warning
Capacity expansion risk : Several companies plan to build new BOPPS production lines. If the capacity is released in a concentrated manner in the future, there may be oversupply and price decline.
Technology iteration risks : The development of new insulating polymer materials may replace PPS membranes in some applications; there is a risk of failure in the development of composite membrane formulations and processes;
Downstream demand fluctuation risk : If the growth rate of the new energy vehicle and energy storage industries slows down, it will directly affect the demand for BOPPS;
Risk of lower-than-expected mass production yield : For some new projects, the trial production yield is qualified, but the large-scale mass production yield is lower than expected, resulting in uncontrolled costs.
6.3 Investment Recommendations
Industry investment: Pay attention to the differentiated composite PPS functional film sector. This sector relies on material customization capabilities, faces less competitive pressure, and has stable high-value-added customer resources.
From a business perspective: New entrants are advised to pursue a differentiated strategy, such as special composite films or modified PPS functional films, and avoid direct competition with general electronic BOPPS.
Continuously track the following indicators: enterprise mass production yield, progress of various industry certifications, orders from downstream high-end customers, and formulation and compound process development capabilities.
VII. Future Development Trends of the Industry ( 2026-2030)
1. The localization rate of BOPPS continues to increase : In the next 2-3 years, domestically produced BOPPS will gradually enter the supply chains of leading car manufacturers and capacitor manufacturers, and import substitution will continue to advance.
2. Thin film ultra-thinning : 8μm and 5μm ultra-thin BOPPS have become the key technical breakthroughs to meet the demand for miniaturized and high-power thin film capacitors;
3. Multifunctional composite : PPS composite films and modified PPS functional films combine insulation, thermal conductivity, barrier properties, etc., expanding into more high-end applications. This is an important area of focus for domestic specialty manufacturers.
4. Green and low-carbon : Low VOC, halogen-free modified PPS film, suitable for the environmental protection requirements of the new energy industry;
5. Integrated industrial chain : The integrated layout of PPS resin-film-downstream die-cutting processing has become the choice of leading enterprises to reduce costs and stabilize quality.
VIII. Conclusion
The Chinese polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) film industry is poised for rapid growth in 2026 , with the core driver of market expansion coming from the domestic substitution of BOPPS biaxially oriented films in the new energy vehicle and energy storage sectors. Beyond the general-purpose BOPPS market, customized composite PPS functional films represent a promising avenue for specialized manufacturers . Companies like Harsom Advanced Materials S&T Co., Ltd. , leveraging their capabilities in composite materials such as PI and PAEK, possess significant potential in the aerospace, new energy, and high-end medical customized markets.
Industry challenges focus on yield rates for ultra-thin products, long-term customer certification, and the risk of future overcapacity. For investors, in addition to the general-purpose BOPPS sector, companies investing in composite modified PPS functional films are worth noting. For new entrants, it is recommended to focus on differentiated sectors such as specialty composite films, avoiding homogeneous competition in the general-purpose electronic BOPPS market. In the long term, with continuous technological advancements in China, PPS films are expected to achieve full self-sufficiency and control over their entire product line, becoming a major global supplier of high-performance specialty films.
[1] China Engineering Plastics Industry Association. White Paper on the Development of Specialty Engineering Plastics Industry 2025
[2] Research Report on Electronic Insulation Materials for New Energy Vehicles, 2025
[3] Research on the Development of Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) Industry, Journal of Chemical New Materials
[4] Advances in high-performance base film technology for thin-film capacitors, Power Electronics Technology
Disclaimer: The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute any investment advice. For practical application of the products, please follow the guidance of professional institutions.
