Capacity Expansion, Standard Upgrades, and Improved Trade Surplus Go Hand in Hand
As a “universal additive,” polyacrylamide (PAM) is undergoing multi-dimensional upgrades in capacity, standards, and trade in 2026. Driven by environmental demands and technological innovation, the market structure continues to optimize.
Capacity Expansion Steadily, Raw Material Advantages Support Supply
Domestic polyacrylamide capacity continues to expand, reaching 1.8 million tons in 2025 and is expected to further increase to 2.2 million tons in 2026. With the expansion of core raw material capacity such as acrylonitrile and acrylic acid, import dependence continues to decline, providing a solid guarantee for domestic market supply. In terms of regional layout, multinational companies are accelerating their capacity layout in Southeast Asia. A new 200,000-ton plant in Vietnam will be put into operation in 2026, focusing on the ASEAN market, making the global supply network more diversified.
National Standard Officially Implemented, Accelerating Industry Standardization
In January 2026, the national standard “Water Treatment Agents – Cationic Polyacrylamide” (GB/T 31246-2025) was officially released and will be implemented on May 1st. This standard clarifies the core technical indicators of cationic PAM, providing a scientific basis for product testing and application selection. It will drive the industry away from low-end, homogeneous competition, guiding enterprises towards high standards and high quality, while ensuring the safe and stable operation of water supply and drainage systems.
Trade surplus sees both quantitative and qualitative increases; high-end transformation becomes key.
China’s polyacrylamide export pattern of “increased export volume and decreased import volume” continues to strengthen. In 2025, exports are projected to reach 380,000 tons, while imports are estimated at 7,500 tons, with the trade surplus expected to exceed 4 billion yuan in 2026. Export markets are mainly concentrated in emerging regions such as Southeast Asia and Africa, accounting for 38% of global exports. However, the high-end market remains weak. Imports of high-end cationic PAM products to Japan and North America are priced 40% higher than ordinary models, relying on supplies from German and American companies. Furthermore, the EU’s carbon border tax, to be implemented in 2026, is expected to increase import costs by 58%, forcing companies to accelerate their green production transformation.
Application scenarios continue to expand, highlighting environmental protection and high value-added demands.
In the water treatment field, anionic PAM increases the removal rate of suspended solids in wastewater to over 95%, while cationic PAM can reduce the amount of sludge dewatering agents used by 30%, making it a core additive in environmental governance. In the paper industry, PAM, as a retention and filtration aid, can reduce pulp fiber loss from 8% to 3%, offering both cost reduction and water conservation benefits. Meanwhile, the demand for bio-based polyacrylamide is growing rapidly, with its trade share expected to reach 15% by 2030, making high-value-added, environmentally friendly products the focus of industry competition.