Biobased Nylon 56 Breaks Through New Energy: Cathay Biotech Teams Up with CATL to Open New Chapter in Industrialization

In August 2025, the Ningde Times-Kaishai (Hefei) bio-based battery shell manufacturing base project, constructed by Anhui Kaixai Times, officially commenced. This project is a joint investment by Kaishai Biological (bio-based PA56 technology provider), Ningde Times (battery end-user), and Kalai Composites (composite material technology provider), with a total investment of 500 million yuan. It plans an annual production capacity of 2.5 million battery shells, with a thickness precision of ±0.1mm and a temperature resistance range of -40℃ to 120℃, directly supporting the Ningde Times CTP3.0 battery system.

Notably, the raw materials for this project come from Cathay Biotech's concurrently constructed 41,000-ton-per-year bio-based composite materials project in Hefei. The plan involves an investment of 468.5 million RMB, with a construction period from April 2025 to December 2026. The primary raw materials are bio-based nylon 56 and fiberglass yarn. The project aims to produce 20,000 tons per year (7,400 tons for internal use) of composite products (with dimensions of 1.3m x 2m and thickness of 0.3mm-5mm), 3,000 tons per year of photovoltaic frame products (length 300mm-2000mm), and 18,000 tons per year of construction template products (width 300mm-1500mm, length 500mm-3400mm).

1. Technical Decoding: Classification and Characteristics of Bio-based Nylon

Bio-based nylon is a polyamide material synthesized from renewable resources such as glucose and castor oil, and can be classified according to its bio-based content.

1. Fully bio-based: PA56 (led by Cathay Biotech), PA11 (Arkema), PA1010 (mainstream in China)
2. Biobased polyamides: PA610, PA410, etc.

Currently, common bio-based nylon materials include PA66, PA56, PA11, PA1010, PA610, PA510, PA410, PA1012, etc.

Taking PA56 as an example, the synthetic route for PA56 is glucose → lysine → 1,5-pentanediamine (E. coli fermentation technology). Domestically, Cathay Biotech has already achieved a production capacity of ten thousand tons.

Source: Forward Intelligence

In addition to composite materials, bio-based PA56 is advancing faster in the field of fibers. Previously, Cathay Biotech signed an agreement with HLA, and another company, Yipin Bio, also has its Yilun fiber.^®The products are being promoted.

2. Application Breakthrough: Expanding from Battery Enclosures to Multiple Fields

According to the "2023 In-depth Research Report on the Global and China Bio-based Nylon 56 (Bio-based PA56) Industry" released by the Xinsijie Industrial Research Center, compared with products such as nylon 6 and nylon 66, the production process of bio-based nylon 56 generates extremely low carbon emissions. The main demand sectors for bio-based nylon 56 include electronics and electrical appliances, automobile manufacturing, textiles, wind power, aerospace, and sports goods. In the future, as research continues to deepen, the application scope of bio-based nylon 56 is expected to further expand.

Here we list the main application industries of bio-based nylon 56:

1. Textile and Apparel

1. • Sports/Outdoor Apparel: Utilizing moisture-wicking properties, used for quick-drying shirts, yoga wear, etc.
   • Special fibers: manufacture of antibacterial fibers, anti-static workwear, etc.

2. Engineering plastics

2. • Automotive parts: Replace PA66 to manufacture lightweight parts such as intake manifolds and connectors.
   • Electronics and electrical appliances: Used for sockets, coil bobbins, and other heat-resistant insulating parts.

3. Films and Packaging

3. • High-barrier film (for food packaging, pharmaceutical packaging).

4. Industry sector

4. • Gears, bearings, slides, and other wear-resistant components.

3. Industry Status: Accelerating Under Policy-Driven Influence

Cathay Biotech is undoubtedly a global leader in bio-based polyamides, specializing in the bio-production of cadaverine, which is used to develop PA56. Their products are characterized by low-carbon and environmentally friendly features, with applications in textiles, engineering plastics, and other fields. Currently, they have production bases in Xinjiang, Shanxi, and other locations, continuously expanding their bio-based material production capacity. PA56 has achieved large-scale production with a capacity of 100,000 tons per year.

By 2025, the global bio-based nylon market size is expected to exceed 21.5 billion yuan, with the new energy sector (including power batteries and photovoltaics) accounting for 35%. The textile sector is projected to have the fastest growth, with a compound annual growth rate of 42%.
International giants (Arkema, Evonik) still dominate the PA11/PA1010 market, but domestic companies have already formed a differentiated advantage in the PA56 sector. With the strategic investment of 6.6 billion yuan by China Merchants Group in Cathay Biotech and the signing of a 3-year procurement agreement for 290,000 tons (200,000 tons in 2025), the integration of industrial resources has entered a new stage.

The collaboration between Cathay Biotech and CATL not only validates the applicability of bio-based nylon 56 in high-end industrial scenarios but also pioneers a new industrialization pathway of "end-user-driven materials." Under the dual-carbon goals, this material, which combines performance and environmental characteristics, is transitioning from the laboratory to large-scale commercial applications.

Edited by: Lily

Source of material: Public reports from DT New Materials, Special Plastics World, and Newthink.