Chinese Aixiner Acquires Nylstar, Revives Century Old Spanish Mill

Zhejiang Aixiner Stockings Co., Ltd. said it will complete the strategic acquisition of Nylstar and resume operations at the Spanish company’s facilities, marking a rare case of a Chinese apparel firm taking over a century old European textile producer. Nylstar, long known for premium nylon yarns used in performance apparel and technical textiles, had embodied more than 100 years of local industrial history before falling into distress in recent years. Aixiner’s move aims to preserve that industrial heritage while integrating European technology into its global manufacturing footprint.

The acquisition gives Aixiner immediate manufacturing presence in Spain and access to specialized nylon spinning and finishing know how that is less prevalent in mass oriented Asian supply chains. For Aixiner the economic logic is clear. Global clothing markets have been pressuring commodity margins for years, encouraging downstream and upstream consolidation as firms chase higher margin technical fabrics, custom formulations and differentiated products. By securing a European R and D base and production lines for premium yarns, Aixiner can pursue higher value segments where technology and brand provenance matter.

Market implications extend beyond the two companies. European suppliers of specialty fibers and yarns compete on quality and product specifications, areas where proximity to advanced research facilities and established customer relationships matter. Aixiner’s acquisition could intensify competition among suppliers to sportswear brands, automotive textiles makers and industrial applications that demand higher performance nylon. It may also prompt other Asian manufacturers to seek similar acquisitions, accelerating cross border consolidation in textiles.

Policy and regulatory context will be important to watch. The European Union adopted an investment screening framework in 2019 to assess foreign direct investment that could affect security or public order. National authorities in Spain and other member states have shown heightened attention to transactions involving strategic industrial assets. The completion of this deal suggests regulators were satisfied or that mitigation measures were acceptable, but future acquisitions will likely face similar scrutiny given concerns about technology transfer and industrial sovereignty.

Local economic impacts are significant. Resuming operations preserves skilled jobs tied to yarn production and helps maintain supplier networks for regional textile clusters. For Spain and the broader European textile sector, the deal underscores a transition from low cost commodity manufacture toward preservation and upgrade of specialized capabilities.

Longer term this transaction reflects durable trends in global manufacturing. Firms are seeking to control more of the value chain, to combine scale in production with technical sophistication, and to respond to consumer demand for performance textiles and sustainability credentials. Aixiner’s challenge will be to integrate Nylstar’s technology while managing cultural and regulatory differences, and to convert the acquisition into sustained export growth rather than short term scale. Observers will watch investments in equipment, R and D and workforce training as the true test of whether the revival delivers lasting industrial and market benefits.