PEEK Materials Surge 15% in Three Days: A-Share Companies Including Huitong, Kingfa, and Water Expand Their Presence

On August 7th, as the three major A-share indices collectively opened higher, the PEEK material concept index attracted market attention with a strong performance, accumulating gains of over 15% over three consecutive days. Stocks such as Zhongyan Co., Ltd. and Xinhai New Materials hit consecutive limit-ups, while companies like Huitong Co., Ltd., Kingfa Sci. & Tech., and Water Co., Ltd. also performed remarkably. The market generally believes that with the strong demand for humanoid robots and new energy vehicles, the PEEK material market is expected to experience rapid growth due to its advantages in lightweight and physical properties.

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), as a semi-crystalline aromatic thermoplastic, is reshaping the material selection standards in high-end manufacturing with its "pinnacle" performance parameters. According to data from Sullivan Consulting for 2025, PEEK has a tensile strength of up to 100 MPa and a modulus of 3.6 GPa, with mechanical properties approaching those of aluminum alloys, yet its density is only 1.32 g/cm³, perfectly meeting the demand for lightweight materials. Its temperature resistance is equally outstanding; the Wigus Technology white paper indicates that PEEK can operate continuously at 260°C, with short-term temperature resistance up to 300°C, far exceeding the limits of ordinary engineering plastics. Additionally, PEEK's resistance to acids, alkalis, fuels, and radiation makes it a "must-have" in the aerospace sector. The ASTM E595 standard certification further consolidates its irreplaceability in extreme environments.

1. In-depth Analysis of the Industry Chain: Who Controls PEEK Mingmen？

The core bottleneck in the PEEK industry chain lies in upstream raw materials. Difluorobenzophenone (DFBP), as a key monomer, accounts for over 50% of production costs, and its purity directly affects the performance of the final product. Currently, global capacity is highly concentrated. Zhongxin Fluorochemical, as the world's largest DFBP producer, has a capacity of 5,000 tons per year, with costs 20% lower than peers. It is deeply integrated into Tesla’s robotics supply chain, and its global market share is expected to exceed 40%. China’s Xinhai New Materials has a DFBP capacity of 2,500 tons per year, with a purity of 99.99%, serving international giants such as WEG and Solvay, and has entered the supply chain of XPeng Robotics.

The midstream resin manufacturing is the segment with the highest technical barriers in the PEEK industry chain. According to the investor memo of Zhongyan Co., Ltd. (May 2025), PEEK synthesis requires precise control of reactions at a high temperature range of 300-400°C, with raw material purity requirements exceeding 99.99%, and strict deoxygenation throughout the process. These "high precision, high purity, high energy consumption" characteristics make it so that only a few companies globally, such as Victrex, Solvay, and Zhongyan Co., Ltd., have mastered the technology for kiloton-level production capacity. Furthermore, Water Corporation is constructing a plant with an annual polymerization capacity of 1,000 tons (to be commissioned in 2025), and its subsidiary Zhejiang Kosai has the capability to process PAEK profiles at a hundred-ton scale, suitable for 3D printing of complex structural components. Additionally, Kaisai New Material possesses kiloton-level PEKK (polyether ketone ketone) production capacity, with performance close to PEEK but at a lower cost, and is developing CF/PEKK prepreg materials in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with a unit price exceeding one million yuan per ton.

Downstream applications mainly involve precision components and modified materials. Kingfa Science & Technology, a global leader in modified plastics, has developed self-produced PEEK with performance comparable to international giants. Its Zhuhai facility is planned to have an annual capacity of 10,000 tons (with the first phase of 2,000 tons to be commissioned in 2025). Zhaomin Technology, as the PEEK supplier for Unitree Robotics, specializes in precision injection-molded parts (gears, bearings), with a unit price reaching 600 yuan per piece. Chongde Technology, as the only domestic enterprise to mass-produce PEEK sliding bearings, offers wear resistance 80% higher than metal and a service life exceeding 100,000 hours, replacing imported products from Germany.

II. APublic Companies Race to Secure Their Positions: Who Will Prevail Among Huitong, Kingfa, and Wat?​

In the application fields of PEEK, humanoid robots, automotive new energy, low-altitude economy.The three major fields are igniting.PEEKExpectations of demand.

In the field of humanoid robots in particular, the industrialization and implementation of Tesla's Optimus has become a key catalyst for the surge in PEEK demand. According to a research report by CICC in July 2025, after adopting PEEK gears in the Optimus knee joint, the weight was reduced by 40% while the lifespan increased to 50,000 hours, with each robot using 6.6 kilograms of PEEK. Taking Tesla as an example, if it achieves its production target of 10 million units in 2025, PEEK demand will soar to 66,000 tons, with a market size potentially exceeding 20 billion yuan.

Recently, several A-share listed companies have intensively disclosed their progress in the PEEK materials sector, demonstrating strategic emphasis on this "pinnacle" special engineering plastic.

Huitong Co., Ltd.: Pioneer in Multi-Material Solutions​​

As a leading company in the field of modified plastics, Huitong Co., Ltd. proactively launched PEEK materials and carbon fiber reinforced special engineering material solutions as early as 2024. On August 6th, the company's secretary office revealed that its developed TPE soft rubber material solution has been successfully applied to robot hand components and has entered the market promotion stage. This innovative solution provides more material options for the lightweight design of robots.

​​Golden Hair Technology: Deep Integration Across the Entire Industry Chain​​

Another industry leader, Kingfa Sci. & Tech., is actively expanding into the humanoid robot and quadruped robot markets. The company has independently developed ultra-high temperature resistant and wear-resistant PPA (high-temperature resistant nylon) and PEEK materials, which have been applied in key component fields. Notably, Kingfa Sci. & Tech. has further strengthened its layout in the robotics industry chain by holding less than 1% equity in Yushutech. The company stated that although carbon fiber and PEEK materials are currently still in the product validation stage, they are expected to achieve mass production in the future.

​​Watts Co., Ltd.: Capacity Implementation Ready to Launch​​

Watts Co., Ltd. has made substantial progress in its PEEK layout. The PEEK synthetic resin production line of its controlling subsidiary, Zhejiang Kesai, had begun trial production by the end of 2024 and obtained a formal production license this May. Currently, Watts Co., Ltd. possesses the capability to produce and process PEEK profiles and can supply customers in fields such as robotics and semiconductors. The company is working with end customers on product verification. Although the shipment volume in the humanoid robot field is limited in the short term, there is optimism about its potential as a future growth driver.

Industry insiders point out that as leading companies like Tesla drive the commercialization of humanoid robots, the advantages of PEEK materials in terms of lightweight and wear resistance will be fully unleashed. Publicly listed companies actively investing in this field will not only help seize market opportunities but also promote technological upgrades and cost optimization across the entire industry chain. In the future, companies with core technologies and mass production capabilities are expected to stand out in the competition.

3. Conclusion

Despite the continuous popularity of PEEK materials in high-end manufacturing due to their outstanding performance, the industrialization process still faces two major "roadblocks": price and processing technology. These have become key factors limiting its large-scale application.

1High Costs: The Gap from Laboratory to Mass Production​​

As the "ceiling" of specialty engineering plastics, the premium on PEEK is equally astonishing. The market price for 3D printing-grade PEEK filaments remains in the range of 1200-1800 RMB/kg, which is 20-40 times that of ordinary PLA materials. Such a vast price disparity makes PEEK almost "impossible to move" in consumer applications. Even in the industrial sector, the high material costs force companies to precisely calculate the input-output ratio.

2Process Challenges: The Pain of Transformation from Material to Component​​

More challenging than the price barrier is the complexity of the processing technology. PEEK injection molding requires specialized equipment, with processing temperatures needing to be precisely controlled within the narrow range of 380-400°C. In the machining process, its high hardness leads to a tool wear rate that is three times that of metal materials, significantly increasing production costs. Even more challenging is that PEEK products have strict requirements for post-processing techniques, where any slight deviation in temperature or stress can lead to a significant decline in product performance.

Facing these challenges, the industry is seeking breakthroughs from multiple dimensions. Upstream companies have improved polymerization processes, reducing the production cost of PEEK from 800 yuan/kg in 2023 to 550 yuan/kg. Midstream modification manufacturers have developed composite technologies such as carbon fiber reinforcement to maintain performance while reducing the cost per unit. Downstream, design optimization is being used to reduce material waste and enhance processing efficiency.

It is noteworthy that with the expansion of high-end application scenarios such as humanoid robots and new energy vehicles, economies of scale are expected to further dilute costs. However, industry insiders admit that for PEEK to truly transform from a "noble material" to "industrial grain," it still needs to cross the final hurdle from laboratory performance to mass production stability. The outcome of this materials revolution depends not only on the speed of technological breakthroughs but also tests the collaborative innovation capabilities of all segments of the industry chain.

Edited by: Lily

Sources: Public reports from TMTPost, Securities Daily, Sci-Tech Innovation Daily, Eastmoney, etc.