North America.
DuPont Group headquarters.
In the strategy conference room, President Doyle had not yet arrived, and the atmosphere was relatively relaxed.
"Actually, the Japanese have it much worse than we do. The emergence of X2 thermal fiber hit Japan's chemical fiber conglomerates the hardest. Asahi Kasei, Mitsubishi Chemical, Toray Group—they are all major players in the thermal fiber sector."
"That may be true, but it still pisses me off. The Thinsulate we developed with 3M was originally capable of challenging Japan's chemical fiber conglomerates, but then the Huaxia people came along and ruined everything. Every contingency plan went down the drain."
"Damn it, those damned Huaxia people completely changed the landscape of the apparel chemical fiber industry overnight. We are facing losses of several hundred million US Dollars, while Japan will lose at least ten times as much as we will! It's all those Huaxia people's fault!"
The group's senior executives and strategists talked heatedly, all directing their hostility toward the other side of the Pacific. They gloated over Japan's losses while grinding their teeth at China's sudden rise, their words filled with vicious hatred.
"Mr. President!"
At that moment, Doyle finally arrived late. His expression was grim, having just been held accountable by several major shareholders.
"This special meeting is being held to discuss how we will respond to the new challenge from China. If anyone has any suggestions, speak now," Doyle said bluntly.
The crowd exchanged looks. Some suggested strengthening research and development, while others proposed reducing prices and costs. Though their products could not match Kunlun Company's X series, they could fight with low prices.
Kunlun Company was, after all, extremely small and severely short on capital. If they used price pressure to force the Huaxia people into financial distress, Gao Yuan might be compelled to sell his patent rights.
At this, greed appeared in the eyes of the company's executives. X Fiber's performance was unprecedentedly formidable.
Any company that acquired this patent would gain nothing less than a strategic nuclear weapon capable of sweeping the globe. It would deal devastating blows to competitors and completely reshape the entire industry.
"Precisely because Kunlun Company is still weak, this plan has a chance of succeeding," said a senior DuPont Group adviser. "If we wait until next year or the year after, when Kunlun Company has earned sufficient profits through X Fiber, it will not be nearly so easy to force them out with capital."
At that point, another executive spoke up. "Please don't forget that Kunlun Company's predicament is not merely a matter of funding. They are also facing production difficulties."
"Based on current market feedback, the X series fiber undoubtedly has broad prospects. However, Kunlun Company itself lacks manufacturing capacity. Chaoda Chemical Fiber, which manufactures fiber products for them, is a private company and far from powerful."
"Without question, even if Chaoda gives it everything it has, it cannot meet such enormous market demand. As for finding a second contract manufacturer, it must first happen to have idle capacity, and then undergo specialized technical upgrades. That cannot be accomplished overnight."
"In short, in my judgment, X2 thermal fiber may be excellent, but before next year, it will face a severe shortage of production capacity."
"In other words, Kunlun Company currently faces dual pressure from funding and capacity. This is the best time to crush them!"
After hearing this, everyone nodded, recognizing the hidden dangers behind Kunlun Company's glamorous rise. Compared with those corporate giants, Gao Yuan clearly lacked a solid foundation. Even the startup capital for the X Fiber project had come from bank loans.
President Doyle was about to say something to bring the day's meeting to a conclusion.
Just then, a blonde female secretary approached and whispered a few words into his ear.
Doyle froze slightly at first, then revealed an odd smile. "They certainly are impatient. The latest news is that several hours ago, our Japanese counterparts already made their move."
"Mitsubishi Chemical, Toyobo, Toray Group, Asahi Kasei, Fujibo, Unichika..." Doyle recited a long list of major Japanese chemical fiber companies, then shrugged. "They have simultaneously lowered the price of their thermal fiber products to one thousand US Dollars per ton. They intend to squeeze the not-yet-released X2 thermal fiber to death through low-price dumping."
The conference room immediately erupted in alarm. A price of one thousand US Dollars per ton was utter madness, approaching or even falling below each company's production cost.
Before this, thermal fibers generally sold for around five thousand US Dollars per ton. This price cut had reached an astonishing eighty percent. They had truly gone all in.
"As expected, we were not the only ones who saw Kunlun Company's weakness. The cunning Japanese noticed it too."
"The only question now is, what do we do?"
President Doyle frowned in thought for a moment, then his brow relaxed. "No matter what, let's get rid of this industry disruptor first. Even if Kunlun Company's patented technology does not end up in our hands, that is still better than having to watch a group of Huaxia people's faces."
Everyone nodded in agreement with the president's judgment.
As civilizations with different ideologies, East and West could hardly coexist.
If they could not take down the X series fiber, then they would take down the owner of the X series fiber!
"Notify the sales department. Draw up a new price list immediately and match our Japanese counterparts!" President Doyle ordered in a deep voice.
Early that morning, news spread through China's largest materials forum. From Europe and North America to Japan and Korea, the world's major thermal fiber suppliers had suddenly launched massive price cuts and promotions on an unprecedented scale.
"Can you believe it? Toray Group, Asahi Kasei, 3M—these giants slashed their ex-factory prices for thermal fibers by eighty percent in one stroke! The wholesale price of most products on the market is already close to one thousand US Dollars!"
"This is insane! In my twenty years in the business, I have never seen a promotion this aggressive!"
"Promotion, my ass! This is clearly low-price dumping meant to squeeze Kunlun Company to death in one go!"
"I have to admit, these top-tier manufacturers are ruthless. Their products may not perform as well as the X series, but they are cheap and their supply is guaranteed."
"They are clearly targeting Kunlun Company's weak spot. As a small factory that only recently rose to prominence, Kunlun's production capacity is worrying. Their X2 thermal fiber may be powerful, but there is still no stock on the market."
"Downstream manufacturers cannot wait that long. Major apparel factories are rushing to launch new fall and winter collections. Since X2 thermal fiber has not yet entered mass production and the major Japanese manufacturers have proactively lowered their supply prices, if I were a downstream manufacturer, I would definitely work with Japan this winter first. Next year, once Kunlun Company gets production sorted out and its output rises, it will not be too late to switch to X series fiber."
"The person above has it right. I work for a downstream manufacturer. Toray Group personally called us just now to notify us of the price-cut promotion. Our boss has already decided to use Japanese products this winter, and the orders have already been placed."
"It is not that we do not want to use Kunlun Company's products. Unfortunately, they are simply too small. Even their supply is a problem. They cannot compare with global manufacturing giants at all."
"The key is still the price. Japanese, European, and North American products are so cheap, practically selling at twenty percent of their original price. Who could resist such temptation?"
It was not even ten in the morning, yet the forum had already descended into chaos.
But arguments aside, everyone in the industry agreed that danger was imminent.
This move by the major manufacturers of Europe, North America, Japan, and Korea was clearly meant to kill off the Kunlun Company that had only just emerged.
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