China Melamine Market Overview, 2030

China's melamine market developed in the early 2000s into a significant player both regionally and globally, propelled by its growing furniture, laminate, construction, and chemical industries. By the mid-2000s, China had eclipsed many nations in melamine production; however, it encountered a well-known oversupply problem, as domestic manufacturing achieved significant surplus levels by approximately 2006, particularly in regions such as Xinjiang, Shandong, and Henan. Melamine is a triazine compound C₃H₆N₆ rich in nitrogen that reacts with formaldehyde to form thermosetting resins. These melamine-formaldehyde resins are valued for their toughness, fire resistance, moisture durability, and chemical resilience. Another variant melamine foam offers an open-cell configuration for sound absorption, thermal efficiency, and effective cleaning sponges. China's initial focus was on melamine resins for decorative laminates, engineered wood adhesives, coatings, and molded plastic products, bolstering its rapidly growing furniture export and real estate construction sectors. Usage of laminate and board continued to be the largest domestic segment ~58% of consumption, with adhesives and coatings. Nevertheless, the swift growth resulted in elevated stock levels and price declines by 2023–24. Oversupply continued as new facilities from Xinjiang Yankuang, Henan Jinkong Tianqing, and Shaanxi Longhua increased output, while subdued downstream demand from construction and laminate industries pressured the market. In spite of this obstacle. In the R&D sector, while domestic advancements in melamine chemistry have fallen behind, there are ongoing consolidation initiatives and government policies aimed at enhancing environmental performance, lowering emissions, and shifting toward more eco-friendly resin systems.

According to the research report, ""China Melamine Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the China Melamine market is anticipated to grow at more than 6.64% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. This expansion is driven by steady demand for laminate flooring, engineered wood panels, adhesives, and surface coatings, along with China's leading position in melamine exports, particularly to Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Major companies influencing this market are China Haohua Chemical Group, Xinji Jiarun Chemical, Shandong Zhongyuan Melamine, Sichuan Golden Elephant, and Shandong Hualu-Hengsheng. These companies provide a varied range of melamine-related products like melamine powder, formaldehyde-melamine resins, enhanced melamine foams, and superior molding compounds. Their products are customized to address both local infrastructure development and rigorous international quality standards, particularly for furniture, panel boards, construction laminates, and electrical insulation materials. China's melamine market offers significant potential in enhanced downstream uses, such as thermoset plastics, low-VOC adhesives, and specialty coatings. As environmental regulations continue to tighten both in China and worldwide, there is a growing need for high-durability, low-emission resins, leading Chinese manufacturers to focus on sustainable technologies and product certifications. To stay competitive worldwide, manufacturers need to adhere to GB/T standards such as GB/T 9567 for melamine resin, and for exporting, align with REACH EU, RoHS, and ISO 9001/14001 certifications. These standards guarantee product safety, emissions regulation, and environmental sustainability, particularly for application in kitchen items, furniture panels, and consumer-facing interior products. Compliance enables Chinese manufacturers to bypass trade limitations, enhance brand reliability, and secure entry into challenging markets like the EU and North America. China’s melamine sector maintains its dominance via mass production, regulatory adjustments, and export-focused approaches, supported by robust infrastructure and advancing quality standards.

In the Chinese melamine sector, by form is divided into Melamine Resin and Melamine Foam, each catering to different industrial and consumer uses, influenced by China's manufacturing capacity and export focus. Melamine Resin is the leading segment in China, representing the majority of local production and usage. It is created by combining melamine and formaldehyde, resulting in a strong, thermosetting polymer mainly utilized in the manufacturing of laminates, adhesives for wood, molding compounds, and coatings for surfaces. Chinese melamine resins are widely utilized in high-pressure laminates HPL for furniture and flooring, bonding plywood and MDF, and coatings for kitchenware, owing to their hardness, water repellency, and stain resistance. Major manufacturers like Haohua, Shandong Hualu-Hengsheng, and Xinjiang Meike produce various grades, including modified melamine resins that cater to low-VOC and environmentally friendly options, complying with both China’s green manufacturing policies and export standards. Melamine Foams, while a smaller market niche, are becoming more significant because of their sound-absorbing, insulating, and fire-retardant characteristics. This form is commonly utilized in public transit high-speed trains, aerospace interiors, HVAC insulation, construction, and electronics packaging. Brands such as Basotect® have established international benchmarks, and Chinese producers are progressively manufacturing domestically-developed melamine foam items that replicate or enhance imported options at competitive prices. Chinese R&D organizations are focusing on improving foam density management, biodegradability, and fire-retardant effectiveness. Melamine resin remains the dominant product in China's chemical and construction sectors, whereas melamine foam is developing as a valuable niche with increasing use in infrastructure, electronics, and sustainable building areas. Both aspects are essential to China's simultaneous position as a large domestic consumer and a key global supplier in melamine-based technology.

In China's melamine sector, by application is divided into Laminates, Wood Adhesives, Moulding Compounds, Surface Coatings, and Others, each bolstered by strong domestic demand and production aimed at exports. Laminates represent the most significant application category, where melamine resins are utilized to create decorative and industrial laminates including High-Pressure Laminates HPL and Low-Pressure Laminates LPL. These are crucial in cabinetry, wall panels, flooring, and furniture. Melamine-impregnated paper improves longevity, scratch resistance, and appearance resulting in its strong preference within China's rapidly growing construction and interior design industries. Wood Adhesives serve as the second main application. Melamine is frequently mixed with urea-formaldehyde to create melamine-urea-formaldehyde MUF resins. These adhesives find application in plywood, particleboard, MDF, and engineered wood, providing enhanced water resistance and bonding strength. This section gains significantly from China’s extensive furniture and prefabricated housing manufacturing, which supports both local infrastructure initiatives and global furniture exports. Melamine-based Moulding Compounds are utilized in electrical applications, kitchenware melamine dishes, automotive parts, and sanitary fixtures. Melamine formaldehyde molding materials offer exceptional hardness, heat tolerance, and chemical durability. Chinese producers frequently provide both thermoset and reinforced versions to satisfy a variety of market demands. Surface Coatings encompass melamine-based crosslinkers utilized in alkyd and acrylic resins, providing resistance to chemicals and weather for automotive, appliance, and industrial finishes. The coatings sector in China, facing demands to lower VOC emissions, is experiencing a transition toward water-based and low-emission melamine formulations. Uses consist of finishing agents for textiles, fireproofing substances, and plasticizers for concrete. These specialized applications are expanding due to progress in construction and technical textiles.

In the Chinese melamine market by sales channel is divided into Direct and Indirect channels, both of which are crucial for product distribution, influenced by the end-use sector, volume needs, and buyer characteristics. Direct Sales Channels prevail when large manufacturers or institutional clients like furniture makers, laminate flooring suppliers, or plywood manufacturers acquire melamine in large quantities. These purchasers generally need melamine resin or molding compounds in large volumes with tailored technical requirements e.g., resin viscosity or crosslinking properties. Key manufacturers such as Haohua Junhua Group, Sichuan Golden Elephant, and Xinji Jiuyuan Chemical uphold extended agreements with these major customers to guarantee consistent supply, technical assistance, and pricing benefits. Direct sales promote improved cooperation on product development, R&D testing, and incorporation into production processes. This channel is prevalent among OEMs in automotive, construction, and electronics, where quality control and traceability are crucial. Conversely, Indirect Sales Channels consist of a network of distributors, wholesalers, and chemical trading firms, which connect melamine producers with small-to-medium enterprises SMEs or regional processors. These purchasers may utilize melamine for adhesives, coatings, small-scale molding, or foams and frequently do not possess the capacity or resources to engage directly with major manufacturers. Indirect channels aid in inventory storage, logistics organization, and various brand selections, particularly for customers in tier-2 and tier-3 cities or export clients requiring smaller shipments. Prominent Chinese trading platforms and export intermediaries are essential in facilitating these transactions, ensuring adherence to export standards and safety regulations. Show more