Dyes: Production
How China and India came to colour the world
What this tab covers Who makes it and how much: world capacity and output, utilisation, the top producing countries and companies globally and in India, concentration, new capacity coming, and each region's position.| Measure | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| World capacity | China: disperse 580 kt/yr and reactive about 455 kt/yr, both unchanged since 2020 (2025) | China Dyestuff Industry Association data via Huaan/East Money broker report (Aug 2026) and RCCaijing (2026) | |
| World output | China 983 kt (2025), up from 940 kt (2024); disperse 460 kt, reactive 308 kt; world about 1.35 Mt (derived from China at over 70%) | China Dyestuff Industry Association data via Huaan/East Money broker report (Aug 2026) and RCCaijing (2026) | |
| Capacity utilisation | China disperse 79% and reactive 68% of capacity (2025) | Chinese textile printing and dyeing utilisation fell from 85% (2022) to 75% (2025), and China's textile exports were $307 billion in 2025 (+1.8%) but down 3% in H1 2026. | China Dyestuff Industry Association data via Huaan/East Money broker report (Aug 2026) and RCCaijing (2026); Faxian Gongchang 2026 (textile data) |
| Concentration | China over 70%, China plus India about 87-90% of output | Within China, the top three disperse makers (Zhejiang Longsheng 140 kt/yr, Runtu 110 kt/yr, Jihua 100 kt/yr) hold 60% of capacity and the top five 78%; in reactive dyes the top three (Huali, Runtu, Longsheng) hold 51%. This lets the leaders lead price rises, as Runtu did with disperse black in early 2026. | China Dyestuff Industry Association data via Huaan/East Money broker report (Aug 2026) and RCCaijing (2026); Faxian Gongchang 2026; Indian Chemical News 2025 (derived) |
| New capacity | limited by environmental permits: Zhejiang and Jiangsu require two tonnes of old H acid capacity retired per new tonne | Yabang adds 10 kt/yr of H acid in 2026; new Chinese capacity moves to bases like Yancheng with about 30% lower environmental cost than Shangyu. | Faxian Gongchang 2026 |
Top producing countries
China 72% · 983 kt (2025), over 70% of world output India 17% · about 0.23 Mt (derived from 16-18% of about 1.35 Mt)- Germany and Switzerland: specialty and high-value dyes (Archroma, DyStar's European plants) (indicative)
- Indonesia, Turkey, Korea, Taiwan: regional producers serving local textile hubs (indicative)
- Bangladesh and Vietnam: large dye consumers with little dye making (indicative)
Largest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhejiang Longsheng Group (with DyStar) Shangyu base 300 kt/yr dyes and 250 kt/yr intermediates; Chinese capacity 140 kt/yr disperse and 70 kt/yr reactive (broker report, Aug 2026); output includes DyStar plants abroad (indicative); controls DyStar (Singapore) through Senda (indicative) | China | 228 kt dye produced (sales 242.2 kt) | 2025 | Faxian Gongchang 2026 |
| Zhejiang Runtu 80% self-sufficient in intermediates; the Aug 2026 broker report gives 110 kt/yr disperse and 80 kt/yr reactive | China | 238 kt/yr dye capacity (118 disperse, 100 reactive) | end-2025 | Faxian Gongchang 2026 |
| Jihua Group (Tongxiang) also 20 kt/yr H acid; the Aug 2026 broker report gives 100 kt/yr disperse | China | 105 kt/yr dye capacity (75 disperse, 20 reactive, 10 other) | 2025 | Faxian Gongchang 2026 |
| Annoqi | China | 35 kt/yr reactive dye capacity | 2025 | Faxian Gongchang 2026 |
| DyStar Kiri's 37.57% stake valued above $481.6 million by Singapore court; volume not published | Singapore | not published | 2025 | Kiri Industries factsheet FY23 |
| Archroma bought Huntsman Textile Effects in 2023 (indicative) | Switzerland | not published | 2025 | not published in sources reached |
Largest producers: India
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atul Ltd dyes (colours) revenue not split out in sources reached | India | 6,274 Rs crore total revenue (all segments) | FY2026 | Arihant Capital news, 24 Apr 2026 |
| Kiri Industries H acid 7,200 t/yr and vinyl sulphone 18,000 t/yr at 90% use | India | 50 kt/yr dye capacity (JV) plus 53.2 kt/yr dye intermediates | FY2023 | Kiri Industries factsheet FY23 |
| Bodal Chemicals integrated reactive dyes and intermediates (indicative) | India | not published | 2026 | not retrieved |
| Colourtex Industries private, Surat; disperse and reactive dyes (indicative) | India | not published | 2026 | not retrieved |
India makes about 16-18% of world dyes and exported about $3.5 billion of dyes and dyestuffs in FY2023-24; Gujarat has about 75% of output. The industry is many small and mid-size plants around Ahmedabad, Vapi, Ankleshwar and Vadodara, strong in reactive dyes and intermediates but dependent on China for some intermediates.
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Small producer; imports dyes and dyed textiles. |
| EU | Specialty dyes and strict chemical rules (REACH textile CMR restriction, SVHC list above 250 items). |
| India | Second producer; export-oriented (about $3.5 billion); Gujarat effluent rules and Chinese pricing set margins. |
| China | Over 70% of supply; oligopoly leaders integrated into intermediates; environmental inspections drive supply shocks. |
| Japan | Small; specialty and inkjet dyes (indicative). |
| Middle East | Minor producer; Turkey a regional dye and textile hub (indicative). |