Colorants, primarily divided into pigments and dyes, play a crucial role in various industries. As a professional organic pigment manufacturer, this overview focuses on pigments, which are classified into inorganic and organic categories based on their chemical composition. Inorganic pigments include oxides, chromates, sulfates, carbonates, silicates, and others. Organic pigments, on the other hand, can be classified by their chemical structures into azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, quinacridone pigments, and more.

The history of synthetic organic pigments began in 1899 with the creation of Lithol Red, marking a significant milestone. Further developments included the invention of yellow and orange monoazo pigments in 1909 and phthalocyanine blue pigments in 1935. The global organic pigments industry has since evolved for over 110 years.

The development of China's organic pigment industry can be divided into three key phases. The first phase, from the 1950s to the 1970s, was a period of slow growth during the planned economy era, where production was limited to a few factories such as those in Beijing and Tianjin. The second phase, from the 1980s to the 1990s, saw rapid growth, driven by economic reforms and foreign investments. By the early 21st century, China entered a comprehensive development phase, with significant improvements in production capacity, product quality, and innovation. In 2008, China's pigment production reached 185,000 tons, with exports of 75,000 tons, reflecting its growing status as a global leader.

Similarly, China’s inorganic pigment industry also experienced steady development after the country's founding, with rapid expansion during the reform era. By 2008, production reached 1.55 million tons across about 120 manufacturers, fulfilling both domestic demand and international market needs.

China’s pigment industry growth has been closely tied to economic reforms and global shifts in the industry. As demand patterns, labor costs, and environmental regulations in developed countries pushed the industry to relocate, Asia—particularly China—emerged as the new center of pigment production. By the 1980s, the industry had shifted from Europe and North America to Asia, fueling China’s rise as a global powerhouse in both pigment production and trade.