Aerospace Composites Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast Segmented By Fiber Type (Carbon Fiber Composites, Ceramic Fiber Composites, Glass Fiber Composites and Others), By Resin Type (Epoxy, Phenolic, Polyester, Polyimides, Thermoplastics, Ceramic and Metal Matrix and Others), By Manufacturing Process (AFP/ATL, Layup, RTM/VARTM, Filament Winding and Others), By Aircraft Type (Commercial Aircraft, Business Aviation, Civil Helicopters, Military Aircraft & helicopters and Others), By Application (Interior and Exterior), By Region (Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa and South America) 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 35.16 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	8.81%
Fastest Growing Segment	Carbon Fiber Composites
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 58.35 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Aerospace Composites Market will grow from USD 35.16 Billion in 2025 to USD 58.35 Billion by 2031 at a 8.81% CAGR. Aerospace composites are advanced materials synthesized by reinforcing a polymer matrix with high-strength fibers to achieve superior stiffness and weight reduction for aircraft structures. The market growth is primarily supported by the imperative for improved fuel efficiency and the global push for fleet modernization to meet stringent environmental emission regulations. Furthermore, the operational longevity and corrosion resistance offered by these materials drive their adoption in commercial and defense aviation programs.

One significant challenge impeding rapid market expansion is the high production cost and technical complexity associated with manufacturing consistent composite components, which can disrupt supply chain fluidity. Nevertheless, the industry continues to demonstrate strong performance. According to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, in February 2025, the value of airplane deliveries for 2024 reached 26.7 billion dollars, which marked an increase of 14.3 percent over the prior year. This substantial financial growth indicates sustained demand for aerospace manufacturing and the requisite advanced materials.

Key Market Drivers

The surge in global commercial aircraft production rates serves as a primary catalyst for the expansion of the aerospace composites sector. Major original equipment manufacturers are aggressively increasing manufacturing output to address substantial order backlogs for fuel-efficient, composite-intensive widebody and narrowbody airframes. This escalation in assembly rates directly correlates with a higher consumption of carbon fiber reinforced polymers required for critical structures such as fuselages, wings, and empennages. According to Airbus, January 2024, in the 'Airbus 2023 Orders and Deliveries' press release, the company delivered 735 commercial aircraft in 2023, representing an 11 percent increase compared to the previous year. This consistent rise in delivery volumes necessitates a robust supply of high-performance materials to ensure lightweighting targets are met.

Increasing defense spending on advanced military aviation further propels market growth as nations modernize their aerial capabilities. Governments are prioritizing the procurement of next-generation fighter jets and unmanned systems that rely heavily on composite materials for stealth properties and superior strength-to-weight ratios. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, April 2024, in the 'Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023' fact sheet, global military spending grew by 6.8 percent to reach 2443 billion dollars in 2023. This budgetary expansion supports the development of defense platforms where material performance is critical for range and payload capacity. Additionally, the broader recovery in aviation activity reinforces these trends; according to the International Air Transport Association, in 2024, total passenger demand for February rose by 21.5 percent compared to the same month in 2023, signaling sustained requirements for new aircraft.

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Key Market Challenges

High production costs and the technical complexity associated with manufacturing consistent composite components represent a primary obstacle impeding the expansion of the Global Aerospace Composites Market. Unlike traditional metallic structures, advanced composites require intricate fabrication processes, such as prolonged autoclave curing and precise fiber placement, which significantly consume time and energy. These rigorous technical demands elevate the price of final components and restrict production scalability. When manufacturers cannot scale output efficiently to match rising demand, it creates severe bottlenecks that disrupt the fluidity of the entire aerospace supply chain, effectively placing a ceiling on market revenue growth.

The direct consequence of these manufacturing limitations is a tangible slowdown in aircraft delivery rates, which prevents the composites market from fully capitalizing on existing order books. This inability to maintain the necessary pace of production has led to historic delays in fleet modernization efforts. According to the International Air Transport Association, in 2024, the global backlog of unfulfilled commercial aircraft orders reached a record 17,000 units due to persistent supply chain constraints. This substantial gap between demand and delivery capability highlights how production complexities are actively restricting the immediate financial progression of the sector.

Key Market Trends

The Emergence of Composite Applications in Urban Air Mobility and eVTOLs is creating a critical new vertical for high-performance materials beyond traditional commercial aviation. These electric platforms require ultra-lightweight structures to maximize battery range and payload, driving rapid demand for carbon fiber reinforced polymers in airframe and rotor blade production. Manufacturing scalability has effectively become the central focus as companies transition from prototyping to mass production facilities capable of supporting high-volume output. According to Aviation International News, August 2024, in the 'Archer's eVTOL Aircraft Factory Takes Shape in Georgia' article, Archer Aviation is constructing a 400,000-square-foot manufacturing facility designed to support an initial annual production rate of 650 Midnight aircraft.

Advancement of Carbon Fiber Recycling and Circular Economy Initiatives is simultaneously reshaping the supply chain to address environmental concerns and raw material costs. Stakeholders are increasingly establishing strategic partnerships to repurpose uncured prepreg and cured composite waste into secondary applications, thereby closing the loop on material usage and reducing reliance on virgin feedstock. This trend mitigates the environmental impact of landfilling while creating a viable secondary market for chopped and milled carbon fibers used in non-structural components. According to Toray Composite Materials America, July 2024, in the 'Toray Partners with Elevated Materials to Repurpose Carbon Fiber Prepreg Waste' press release, their recycling partner has successfully diverted 200,000 pounds of carbon fiber waste from landfills through specialized upcycling processes.

Segmental Insights

Carbon Fiber Composites represents the fastest-growing segment in the Global Aerospace Composites Market, driven by the intensifying demand for lightweight, fuel-efficient aircraft. This growth is underpinned by strict regulatory frameworks from institutions like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which enforces rigorous global emission standards. To meet these compliance targets, original equipment manufacturers are shifting from metal alloys to carbon fiber for critical load-bearing structures, utilizing its superior strength-to-weight ratio to significantly reduce airframe mass. This transition enables airlines to achieve lower operational costs and improved environmental performance, cementing the material’s vital role in fleet modernization.

Regional Insights

North America holds the leading position in the global aerospace composites market, driven by the substantial manufacturing capacity of major commercial aircraft original equipment manufacturers and defense contractors. The region benefits from a well-established supply chain that supports the high-volume production of composite-intensive aircraft structures. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) establishes stringent certification protocols that standardize material quality and safety, thereby fostering industry confidence. This regulatory stability, combined with sustained demand for lightweight materials in military and civil aviation, ensures North America remains the primary hub for market activities.

Recent Developments

• In October 2024, Applied Aerospace completed the acquisition of key assets from Innovative Composite Engineering (ICE), a specialized manufacturer of structural composite tubes for aerospace and industrial use. Following the transaction, the acquired entity was established as a subsidiary, retaining its existing manufacturing facilities and workforce. This strategic integration was designed to combine the technical capabilities of both organizations, thereby broadening the range of complex composite and metallic assemblies available to clients. The move aimed to enhance production capacity and deliver comprehensive solutions for high-performance applications across the space, launch, and air markets, strengthening the company's position in the aerospace supply chain.
• In September 2024, Toray Advanced Composites announced the commercial release of Toray Cetex TC1130 PESU, a high-performance thermoplastic composite material engineered for aircraft interior applications. This product was developed to meet the sector's rising requirement for materials that deliver both weight reduction and environmental sustainability. The new composite featured fully recyclable properties while maintaining superior resistance to fire, smoke, and toxicity. This launch represented a significant expansion of the company's continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic offerings, enabling aerospace manufacturers to create mono-material sandwich structures that align with circular economy principles and streamline manufacturing processes.
• In March 2024, Hexcel Corporation launched a new continuous carbon fiber product, HexTow IM9 24K, specifically developed for the global aerospace market. This advanced material was introduced to provide manufacturers with a high-efficiency alternative for producing both primary and secondary aerospace vehicle structures. The fiber offered improved mechanical properties, allowing for the fabrication of lighter and stronger composite components essential for modern aircraft design. By expanding its portfolio with this product, the company sought to address the industry's increasing demand for lightweight materials that contribute to enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions in commercial and defense aviation sectors.
• In February 2024, Syensqo entered into a strategic partnership with Climate Impulse to support the development of a green hydrogen-powered aircraft designed for a non-stop flight around the Earth. The collaboration focused on the supply of advanced composite materials, surfacing films, and adhesive films, which served as critical components for the aircraft’s lightweight fuselage and liquid hydrogen tanks. This initiative aimed to demonstrate the technical feasibility of hydrogen propulsion in aviation by utilizing materials capable of withstanding demanding environmental conditions. The project underscored the company's commitment to advancing sustainable technologies and providing high-performance solutions for the next generation of eco-friendly aerospace applications.

Key Market Players

• Toray Industries, Inc.
• Hexcel Corporation
• Solvay S.A.
• SGL Carbon SE
• Teijin Limited
• Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation
• Owens Corning
• Gurit Holding AG
• Royal Ten Cate N.V.
• BASF SE

By Fiber Type	By Resin Type	By Manufacturing Process	By Aircraft Type	By Application	By Region
Carbon Fiber Composites Ceramic Fiber Composites Glass Fiber Composites and Others	Epoxy Phenolic Polyester Polyimides Thermoplastics Ceramic and Metal Matrix and Others	AFP/ATL Layup RTM/VARTM Filament Winding and Others	Commercial Aircraft Business Aviation Civil Helicopters Military Aircraft & helicopters and Others	Interior and Exterior	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Aerospace Composites Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Aerospace Composites Market, By Fiber Type:

• Carbon Fiber Composites
• Ceramic Fiber Composites
• Glass Fiber Composites and Others

• Aerospace Composites Market, By Resin Type:

• Epoxy
• Phenolic
• Polyester
• Polyimides
• Thermoplastics
• Ceramic and Metal Matrix and Others

• Aerospace Composites Market, By Manufacturing Process:

• AFP/ATL
• Layup
• RTM/VARTM
• Filament Winding and Others

• Aerospace Composites Market, By Aircraft Type:

• Commercial Aircraft
• Business Aviation
• Civil Helicopters
• Military Aircraft & helicopters and Others

• Aerospace Composites Market, By Application:

• Interior and Exterior

• Aerospace Composites Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE