Shangyou forges multibillion-yuan fiberglass empire

NANCHANG — Tucked in the mountains in East China's Jiangxi province, Shangyou county — a remote enclave of 317,700 people with minimal mineral resources, no railway access, and quite a distance from major markets — has defied expectations by forging a multibillion-yuan fiberglass empire from virtually nothing.

Having started 35 years ago with one of China's first fiberglass factories powered by local hydropower, Shangyou now hosts 195 fiberglass firms. Their combined sales topped 15 billion yuan ($2.09 billion) last year.

At Yuan Yuan New Materials Co Ltd, minerals like quartz sand and limestone melt at 1,600 C, forming strands one-fifth the width of a human hair.