(September 9, 2026) The domestic silicone industry is showing continued recovery. As one of the most widely used basic materials in the silicone industry chain, the methyl silicone oil (polydimethylsiloxane) market features increased competition among generic products and rising demand for high-end customized products. Domestic companies have made significant technological breakthroughs in producing high-purity methyl silicone oil with low impurity levels, breaking the monopoly held by foreign products. This has contributed to the upgrading of materials used in various industries such as new energy, electronics, personal care products, and textiles.

Methyl silicone oil is a colorless, transparent, and low-volatility polysiloxane liquid. Its unique molecular structure based on silicon-oxygen bonds gives it key properties such as resistance to high and low temperatures, chemical inertness, electrical insulation, and low surface tension. It can operate stably within the range of -50°C to 200°C. Additionally, it possesses excellent anti-foaming, lubricating, demolding, and hydrophobic properties. It is an essential functional material in industrial manufacturing and consumer goods sectors. The product viscosity options are diverse, ranging from low-viscosity liquids to high-viscosity substances, allowing customization to meet different application requirements.

In terms of downstream markets, traditional sectors maintain stable demand, while emerging fields become the main drivers of growth. The personal care industry is one of the largest markets for methyl silicone oil, where it is used in skincare and hair care products to provide a silky texture. In the textile industry, it is used as a softening agent. In industrial applications, it is commonly used as an anti-foaming agent, mold release agent, and mechanical lubricant. Meanwhile, industries such as new energy vehicles, photovoltaics, and semiconductor packaging continue to expand, leading to a rapid increase in demand for high-purity methyl silicone oil for electronic applications. Such products require very low levels of impurities and low ionic contaminants, and they are used in insulation, damping, and heat dissipation applications. As environmental regulations like REACH become stricter overseas, downstream customers are forced to switch to environmentally friendly methyl silicone oil products with low D4 and D5 contents.

On the supply side, leading domestic silicone companies are continuously improving their green production processes, and continuous synthesis and distillation technologies are being implemented. In the past, high-purity methyl silicone oil with low impurity levels relied heavily on imports. However, in recent years, domestic manufacturers have developed proprietary technologies, enabling large-scale production of environmentally friendly low-viscosity methyl silicone oil. These products meet European and American export standards, reducing costs for domestic manufacturers and creating favorable conditions for exports. The concentration of production capacity in the industry is increasing. Leading companies gain market share in the high-end segment through stable quality and customized services, while smaller manufacturers face intense competition in the general industrial-grade product market, resulting in limited profit margins.

In terms of prices, the recovery of DMC, a key silicone raw material, in the first half of the year led to an increase in methyl silicone oil costs. The market is generally in a tight balance. Industry reports show that the mainstream prices of methyl silicone oil in China remain stable, and inventory levels among manufacturers are low. Downstream buyers mainly purchase small orders to replenish stock, while large orders remain pending. Industry experts believe that fluctuations in upstream raw materials, environmental restrictions, and shutdowns of overseas chemical plants will continue to affect short-term supply of methyl silicone oil. In the long term, the focus of market growth will shift from mere capacity expansion to the development of high-value-added products. Integrated services related to formulations, viscosity customization, and compliance certification will become the core competitiveness of companies.

Looking ahead, with continued support from policies promoting new materials, the classification system for domestic methyl silicone oil products will be further improved. On one hand, production capacity for high-purity methyl silicone oil for food contact, pharmaceutical, and electronic applications will increase, replacing imported products. On the other hand, efforts will be made to develop environmentally compliant products for export, helping domestic silicone materials to enter international markets. The future development direction of the industry will focus on green and low-volatility production, reducing the amount of volatile impurities in products, and adapting to increasingly strict global chemical regulations. The industry will also explore new opportunities in emerging fields such as new energy and precision manufacturing.