Introduction
With rising global demand in building insulation, cold chain logistics and green packaging, China’s EPS raw material exports have entered a golden period. Leveraging its solid petrochemical foundation, complete industrial chain and geographical advantages, Northeast China has emerged as a core national EPS export cluster. Centered on Fushun, Shenyang and Dalian, it focuses on P104/F104 products, builds a closed-loop industrial chain, and deeply connects with core global markets, becoming a growth driver for China’s EPS exports.
I. Solid Industrial Foundation: Northeast China as a Core EPS Raw Material Production Base
As the cradle of China’s petrochemical industry, the Northeast has a complete industrial chain from crude oil processing to EPS production, with an annual styrene monomer capacity exceeding 3 million tons and a self-sufficiency rate of 78%, ensuring stable raw material supply and cost control. By the end of 2025, the region had over 50 scaled EPS manufacturers with a total annual capacity of over 1.2 million tons (accounting for more than 35% of China’s total), of which P104/F104 accounted for over 60%, making it the world’s largest concentrated production area.
As the core engine, Fushun gathers benchmark enterprises such as Fushun Daluwin, whose products cover full specifications of P104/F104, comply with ASTM D1622 standards and ISO 9001 certification, meeting strict requirements of global markets and becoming the core force of the cluster.
II. Closed-Loop Industrial Chain: One-Stop Enablement for Global P104/F104 Delivery
The core competitiveness of the Northeast EPS cluster lies in its closed-loop industrial chain, providing comprehensive support for global P104/F104 delivery.
（A）Upstream: Self-Sufficient Raw Materials, Dual Assurance of Cost and Quality
The Northeast petrochemical base realizes localized supply of core raw materials such as styrene and blowing agents. In 2025, relying on the price advantage of styrene, the export price of P104/F104 is 5%-8% lower than that in East and South China. Meanwhile, customized raw material supply ensures quality from the source.
（B）Midstream: Concentrated Capacity Release, Precisely Tailored Product Portfolio
The Northeast focuses on two core products: P104 light-grade pellets (particle size 0.85-1.25mm) for mid-to-low-end markets such as Brazil and the Middle East; F104 flame-retardant pellets (Class B2 flame retardancy) for high-end markets such as North America and the EU. Currently, the annual capacity of the two products exceeds 750,000 tons, accounting for over 40% of China’s total, enabling rapid response to large-volume customized orders.
（C）Downstream: Prime Location & Logistics, Efficient & Stable Global Delivery
Dalian and Yingkou Ports connect to over 160 countries worldwide. The drive from Fushun to both ports is less than 3 hours, with leading logistics efficiency. Northeast logistics enterprises provide "door-to-door" services for hazardous goods, with an average EPS delivery cycle of 25-30 days, 5-7 days shorter than that in East China.
（D）Support: Comprehensive Service Ecosystem, Full Compliance Assurance
There are national-level testing centers in the region, and foreign trade service agencies can quickly handle various export certifications. Local governments have introduced supportive policies such as export tax rebates and logistics subsidies, forming a competitive advantage of "stable supply, ample capacity, fast logistics and premium service".
III. Strong Market Performance: P104/F104 Dominating Key Global Markets
In 2025, China’s total EPS exports exceeded 447,800 tons, a year-on-year increase of 36.95%. The Northeast’s share reached 32%, with export value increasing by over 60% year-on-year. Among them, P104 exports exceeded 300,000 tons (45% of China’s total), and F104 exports exceeded 150,000 tons (50% of China’s total), mainly exported to Brazil, North America, the Middle East and other markets.
In the Brazilian market, Northeast P104 has replaced Japanese and Korean products, with a market share of over 50%; in the North American market, F104 has passed multiple international certifications, with exports increasing by 58.6% year-on-year; exports to the Middle East increased by over 45% year-on-year. With stable quality, the repurchase rate of Northeast EPS customers exceeds 80%, and international recognition continues to improve.
IV. Future Outlook: Full-Chain Upgrading, Leading the Global EPS Industry
Leveraging market opportunities and policy dividends, the Northeast EPS cluster will focus on three directions: first, high-end product upgrading, developing environmentally friendly high-end products to expand European and American markets; second, green industrial chain transformation, responding to the "Dual Carbon" goal and promoting circular economy; third, diversified market layout, consolidating core markets and developing emerging markets to build a world-class EPS export cluster.
