High-Performance Fibers Market

Market Overview

The global high-performance fibers market size had a revenue holding of USD 11.95 billion in 2021. It is expected to reach USD 25.42 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.75% during the forecast period (2022–2030). The demand for natural and synthetic fibers is expected to increase in various application industries throughout the forecast period, including textile, aerospace & military, automotive, construction, sporting goods, and others.

High-performance fibers are designed for specific applications requiring extreme strength, stiffness, heat resistance, or chemical resistance. These fibers are often more robust and flexible than standard fibers. Carbon fiber is one of the most crucial high-performance fibers for use in aerospace and military applications. Although carbon fiber is designed for strength and stiffness, there are variances in its chemical, thermal, and electrical conductivity. The performance of the finished textile goods is highly dependent on the fiber and its characteristics. They have distinctive molecular and phase structures, which source high-performance fibers.

The goal of the high-performance fiber market is to create products with high tensile strength, long-term durability, and flexibility that are also commercially feasible. The expansion of the fiber sector is closely related to the increased need for fabric protection goods. Raw materials include polyesters, polyamides, polycarbonates, phenolic and epoxy resins, rubber, graphite, sulfur, and polyethylene polymers. Manufacturers may now buy raw materials at lower prices thanks to recent technical breakthroughs, which immediately boost profitability.

Market Dynamics

High-Performance Fibers Market Drivers

Demand for Security & Protective Equipment

High-performance fibers are commonly used in two applications, including reinforcement in composites found in things like military vehicles, sporting goods, and airplanes and fabrics used in apparel like fire-resistant clothing or bulletproof vests. They are also commonly employed in many different application areas, including the reinforcement of circuit boards, jet engine enclosures, tennis strings, hockey sticks, protective gloves, sailcloth, flame- and cut-resistant clothing, snowboards, helmets, filament wound pressure vessels, body armor, optical fiber cable systems, ropes, and cables. Every application has specific needs, but they are all in line with the fundamental characteristics of the product, which include high strength, toughness, modulus, minimal creep, thermal dimensional stability, and lightweight.

During the forecasted period, it is anticipated that the rising demand for security and protective measures in various end-use industries, including the military and construction, will increase. Due to its superior fiber, chemical, mechanical, and thermal qualities, high-performance fibers are frequently used to create protective apparel, equipment, and accessories. In the past several years, high-performance fibers have significantly increased their penetration in security and protection applications. This trend is projected to continue over the forecast period. Numerous end-use industries, including healthcare/medical, mining, oil & gas, manufacturing, building & construction, military, and others, frequently require protective apparel.

Numerous manufacturers of textiles use materials, including Nomex, Kevlar, and nylon, in protective clothing for the military. Due to their incredible strength, flame retardancy, and antiballistic essential qualities, these fibers are particularly ideal for security & protection applications. The penetration of personal protective equipment is anticipated to increase soon due to the rising incidence of occupational deaths and employee safety awareness. Over the projection period, it is expected that expanding the industrial sector in developing nations like India, China, Brazil, Japan, and Singapore will boost demand for PPE products. The market for high-performance fibers will benefit from this.

High-Performance Fibers Market Restraints

Manufacturing Cost

At high temperatures, high-performance fibers have exceptional chemical and physical properties. When compared to general-purpose fibers, their prices are somewhat high. Even though many chemical compositions are known, only a tiny number are synthesized commercially for technological and commercial reasons. The primary technical determinant is the degree of fiber qualities, which are influenced by polymer composition, polymer molecular weight, ingredient selection, and fiber creation technique. However, from a business perspective, the main determinants are high manufacturing costs, initial investment, and a finite supply of monomers. Throughout the projection period, the market's expansion is anticipated to be constrained by the high manufacturing costs of PBI, PBO, M5, and aramid fibers.

High-Performance Fibers Market Opportunities

Growing Popularity in Aerospace & Defense

The most considerable demand for carbon fiber comes from aerospace and defense applications. The aerospace and defense industries are big fans of carbon fiber because of its high strength-to-weight ratio. Because it can significantly lower an object's weight, carbon fiber is frequently utilized in military aircraft and helicopters. Over the past few years, the aerospace and defense industries in Europe and North America have grown, and this trend is anticipated to continue over the next few years.

The carbon fiber in the region has been boosted by the presence of global aerospace leaders like Airbus and Boeing in Europe and North America. The market has also been fueled by expansion in the commercial aviation sector. The number of people using aviation services has significantly increased due to globalization. In terms of developing new airplanes, this trend is anticipated to drive the need for carbon fiber. Thus, creating lucrative opportunities for the high-performance fiber market.

Regional Analysis

The regional segmentation of the global high-performance fibers market includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

The Asia Pacific and North America will dominate the regional market

The Asia Pacific will likely command the market and account for a revenue holding of around 42.8%. The growing use of high-performance fibers as an alternative to asbestos and steel and the expanding need for security and protection measures across a range of end-use sectors are some of the critical drivers anticipated to significantly impact market growth over the forecast period. Security and protection measures drive the product to use in major economies like China and India. This, in turn, will likely present a significant opportunity for the market to grow over the next few years. These industries include healthcare/medical, mining, oil & gas, manufacturing, building & construction, and military.

Over the projection period, it is anticipated that rising investments in the construction, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors will fuel product demand. In addition, the need for high-performance fibers is expected to grow in the following years due to rising internet demand from developing nations, rapid industrialization, and substantial expansion in the telecom sector. Due to the need for fiber-reinforced composite materials in the automotive, electronics & telecommunication, building & construction, and wind energy sectors, the Asia Pacific high-performance fibers market share is anticipated to grow fastest. The development of new products, the affordable availability of raw resources, and industry leaders' establishment of production facilities are all credited with the predicted rise. The region's dominance is attributed to the rising demand for fibers from regional producers of electronics and telecommunications, automobiles, and aerospace.

North America is expected to hold a revenue share of around 28.5% during the forecast period. Due to the large aircraft manufacturing industry and the presence of essential aircraft manufacturers, North America significantly contributes to the demand for high-performance fibers. In the past years, the market has been growing due to the strict requirements set forth by many regulatory agencies, including the HSE, ANSI, and state bodies, regarding workers' security and protection measures in various industries. Throughout the forecast period, this is most likely to play a significant role in the growth of the North American high-performance fiber market.

To guarantee the safety of workers in various industries, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in the U.S. has established safety standards for a wide range of personnel protective equipment, such as protective gloves. Furthermore, it is predicted that the market will experience considerable expansion throughout the forecast period due to the substantial rise in aramid fiber demand in several application sectors, including tire reinforcement, electrical insulation, aerospace, frictional materials, and optical fibers. The market for high-performance fibers is driven by the increasing need for passenger transportation and rising environmental concerns due to rising carbon emissions, which is anticipated to boost the demand for lightweight materials throughout the forecast period.

Segmental Analysis

The global high-performance fibers market is analyzed across material type, application, and region.

On the Basis of Material Type

Based on the material type, the categories include Carbon Fibers, Polybenzimidazole (PBI) Fibers, Aramid Fibers, M5/PIPD Fibers, Polybenzoxazole (PBO) Fibers, Glass Fibers, High Strength Polyethylene Fibers, and Others.

The carbon fiber section is envisioned to expand at a CAGR of 7.87% and hold the largest market share. The need for automobiles with low fuel consumption is being driven by factors such as increased attention to environmental issues and an increase in the number of strict emission control rules being imposed. Automakers want to lower vehicle weight and fuel consumption by employing carbon fiber for structural components. Throughout the forecast period, rising carbon fiber demand in the automotive sector is anticipated to fuel market expansion.

The aramid fiber section will hold the second-largest share. As a replacement for asbestos, carcinogenic, and toxic fiber, the synthetic fiber market for aramid continues to develop and produce these fibers. Friction materials free of asbestos gain strength and wear resistance from aramid fiber. It makes it possible to choose inert fillers based on their thermal and wear characteristics with less worry about the filler's other physical features. Fibers made of the solid synthetic material aramid are resistant to heat.

On the Basis of Application

Based on the application, the categories include electronics & telecommunications, textiles, aerospace & defense, construction & building, automotive, sporting goods, and others.

The aerospace & defense section is envisioned to advance at a CAGR of 8.7% and hold the largest market share. High-performance fibers are robust, long-lasting, and lightweight. The fibers are appropriate for building aircraft structures due to their strength-to-weight ratio. High-performance fibers are used in aerospace equipment to improve fuel efficiency, and throughout the projection period, this is expected to increase product penetration in the aerospace & military industry. Due to their many advantageous qualities, aerospace components often use high-performance fibers like aramid fibers. They are primarily utilized in parts with low weight, high tension, and impact resistance.

The textile section will hold the second-largest share. More and more high-performance fibers are employed in the textile industry to create more robust textiles. The use of several technologies during the production process defines technical textiles. These technologies serve various applications because of the disparity in their end-use markets. High-performance fibers are becoming increasingly popular in technical textiles for use in multiple industries, including agriculture, building & construction, industrial, packaging, and medical. Over the anticipated timeframe, this is projected to fuel the industry's expansion.

Recent Developments

• In 2022, Honeywell International Inc. and DENSO stated they would work together to build an electric motor for the Lilium Jet.