Viscose fibre: Production
China, India's Birla and Austria's Lenzing lead
China, India's Birla and Austria's Lenzing lead 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 | not published in sources reached; Canopy's 2024 assessment of 28 of 35 MMCF producers covered 97.5% of global capacity | ESG Dive, Dec 2024 | |
| World output | 8.4 Mt MMCF (2024), of which viscose about 6.7 Mt (derived) | Textile Exchange 2025 | |
| Capacity utilisation | not published | Chinese CSF inventories averaged 14 days in Q4 FY2025 (January-March 2025) versus 13 days in FY2024 (Grasim). Lenzing's fibre sales fell 6% in 2025 to 904 kt. | Grasim Q4 FY2025; Lenzing FY2025 presentation |
| Concentration | China about 65%; top three countries about 85% (indicative) | Large producers are Sateri (RGE group), Aditya Birla (Birla Cellulose), Lenzing, Tangshan Sanyou and Xinjiang Zhongtai (indicative). Top-5 company share is not published. | indicative |
| New capacity | lyocell is where new capacity is going | Grasim 110 kt/yr lyocell at Harihar (first 55 kt by mid-2027, ₹1,350 crore). Lenzing is investing €15 million in premium nonwoven fibre capacity and took control of TreeToTextile. Generic Chinese lyocell capacity more than doubled in three years (Lenzing). | Grasim Q3 and Q4 FY2025; Lenzing FY2025 presentation |
Top producing countries
China 65% · about 4.4 Mt viscose (indicative) India 10% · about 0.85 Mt CSF sales by Grasim (FY2025, annualised from 636 kt in April-December 2024) Indonesia 10% · Sateri/Asia Pacific Rayon, Lenzing (South Pacific Viscose), Aditya Birla (Indo Bharat Rayon) (indicative) Austria and rest of Europe 5% · Lenzing (Austria), Kelheim (Germany) and others (indicative) Thailand 3% · Aditya Birla (Thai Rayon), Lenzing lyocell (indicative) indicative (basis: industry estimates of China's share of VSF capacity); Grasim Q3 FY2025; share derived on 8.4 Mt MMCF and indicative; indicative; Lenzing booked an €82 million impairment on its Indonesian site in 2025 and is reviewing a sale; indicativeLargest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Group (Birla Cellulose; Grasim in India) plus group plants in Thailand, Indonesia and China; specialty fibres 21% of Grasim's mix | India | 636 kt CSF sales, Grasim, April-December 2024 | 9M FY2025 | Grasim earnings presentation Q3 FY2025 |
| Lenzing revenue €2,602 million; adjusted EBITDA €426 million; 1,218 kt pulp output | Austria | 904 kt fibre sales (viscose, modal, lyocell) | 2025 | Lenzing FY2025 results presentation |
| Sateri (RGE) often cited as the largest viscose producer; not published in sources reached | China / Indonesia | not published | 2025 | indicative |
| Tangshan Sanyou not published | China | not published | 2024 | ESG Dive (Canopy joint top score, 2024) |
| Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical integrated with chlor-alkali; not published | China | not published | 2025 | indicative |
| Kelheim Fibres specialty viscose for nonwovens; not published | Germany | not published | 2025 | indicative |
Largest producers: India
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grasim Industries (Birla Cellulose) plants at Nagda, Harihar, Kharach and Vilayat (indicative); FY2025 cellulosic fibres revenue ₹15,897 crore; lyocell 43 kt/yr rising to 153 kt/yr | India | 636 kt CSF sales (April-December 2024) | 9M FY2025 | Grasim Q3 FY2025 |
| Century Rayon (Century Textiles) VFY, not staple; capacity not published in sources reached | India | not published | 2025 | indicative |
Grasim is effectively India's only large viscose staple producer (indicative) and also exports. Domestic CSF sales grew 4% in Q4 FY2025 while total volume was flat (Aditya Birla). The BIS quality-control order on VSF imports was revoked by the Ministry of Textiles with immediate effect on 18 November 2025 to ease raw-material access for spinners (News On AIR).
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Little viscose production; imports fibre and fabric. |
| EU | Lenzing and Kelheim focus on premium, low-impact fibres; EUDR covers wood pulp imports (indicative). |
| India | Grasim dominant; VSF QCO revoked November 2025; dissolving pulp is largely imported (indicative); 50% US tariffs weigh on garment exporters (CRISIL). |
| China | About two-thirds of world viscose and fast-growing generic lyocell; sets world prices. |
| Japan | Small specialty output (indicative). |
| Middle East | Not a producer; supplies sulphur for the sulphuric acid and CS2 chain. |