With the tight supply of crude oil, the feedstock shortage of synthetic fiber became more seriously. In domestic market, 60% feedstock supply depended on imports. However, the man-made fiber was supplied by the abundant natural resource and inherited the advantages of the natural fiber. The investment fever and respectable returns in viscose staple fiber in second half of 2003 attracted intense attention from the whole industry.

As the viscose fiber capacity expanded rapidly, the problems such as feedstock supply shortage and profit decline emerged. Meanwhile, many new man-made fibers (lyocel, bamboo fiber, polynosic) were developed and received good market response. Under this background, the supply-demand and investment situation in man-made fiber industry, the new man-made fibers, the marketable downstream products and the direction of the man-made fiber industry became the centre of the market concern.

China Chemical Fiber Website and China Cotton Textile Website hosted the 1st Man-made Fiber Industry Forum in Hangzhou on Apr 27, 2004. The experts from well-known enterprises and research institutions such as SAPPI, Huvis, China Textile Industrial Engineering Institute made speeches in the conference and the participators from various sectors of man-made fiber industry took part in it.