China Plastic Processing Industry Association Warns Against Blind Expansion in Separator Industry

On September 7, the China Plastic Processing Industry Association issued an initiative warning the separator industry against blind capacity expansion and urging rational development, according to Jiemian News. The association said the sector has recovered somewhat after a period of market adjustment, but a new wave of investment is emerging as sentiment improves, raising the risk of another supply glut if new capacity outpaces demand. The association said separator manufacturing is capital-intensive, with long construction cycles, high equipment spending and difficult ramp-up periods. It warned that overseas expansion is not a simple way to absorb excess domestic capacity because foreign markets face higher barriers on trade, compliance, carbon footprints and local production requirements. The group said the market’s real shortage is in ultra-thin, high-safety and differentiated products for new battery systems, while standard base films and commoditized coated products already face clear supply pressure. It urged companies to avoid scale-first expansion, focus more investment on upgrading existing lines, process improvements and high-end product development, and carefully assess overseas risks before building plants abroad. The association also said it will monitor capacity and project pipelines, issue supply-demand risk alerts and promote information sharing across the industry. It called on local governments to respect industrial development rules and avoid encouraging low-end, repetitive separator projects.