UK Composites Market Trends and Forecast
Lucintel finds that the future of the UK composites materials market looks promising with opportunities in aerospace and defense, transportation, wind energy, and construction end use. The UK composite materials market is expected to reach an estimated $735 million by 2030 with a CAGR of 3% from 2023 to 2030. The major drivers in this market are increasing demand for lightweight materials in the aerospace & defense, automotive, and wind energy industries; the UK composite materials market will also see increased demand due to the need for materials that offer corrosion and chemical resistance in the construction industry.
Composites are typically made from raw materials such as fibers (carbon, glass, aramid), resins (epoxy, polyester, vinyl ester), and additives (fillers, reinforcements). The price of composites varies depending on the specific materials used and the manufacturing process. Generally, composites can be more expensive than traditional materials like metals and plastics due to their advanced properties such as high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. However, they offer cost efficiencies in applications where these characteristics provide significant performance advantages, such as aerospace, automotive, and construction industries.
• Lucintel forecast that transportation will the largest end use segment and aerospace and defense is also expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period due to increasing the demand for fuel efficiency and improving the aerodynamic performance in the new aircrafts.
• Glass composites will remain the largest segment over the forecast period due to the increasing use of glass composites in various applications
Country wise Outlook for the UK Composites Market
The UK composites market is witnessing substantial growth, driven by increased demand from various industries such as aerospace and defense, transportation, wind energy, construction. Major players in the market are expanding their operations and forming strategic partnerships to strengthen their positions. Below image highlights recent developments by major UK composites producers in key regions: UK.
Emerging Trends in UK Composites Market
Emerging trends in UK Composites are shaping its future applications and market dynamics:
1. Advanced Manufacturing Technologies: There is a growing adoption of advanced manufacturing techniques such as automation, additive manufacture (3D printing), and digital design tools that are leading to improved efficiency and customization capabilities.
2. Increasing applications in Medical and Healthcare: This has led to high utilization of composites in medical devices, prosthetics, and healthcare equipment due to their compatibility with living tissues and strength.
3. Shifting towards Electric Vehicles (EVs): A shift towards electric vehicles has created demand for light composite materials that can improve energy efficiency and range.
4. Aerospace and Defense: The aerospace sector continues being a major driver where composites have been utilized widely in airplane manufacturing to lessen weight while improving performance.
5. Focus on Sustainability: There is an increasing concern on sustainable materials and processes for composites manufacturing. It is driven by environmental regulations as well as consumer demand for environmentally friendly products.
These trends reflect a dynamic shift towards sustainability, technological advancement, and expanding application areas within the UK composites market.
A total of 127 figures / charts and 101 tables are provided in this 241-page report to help in your business decisions. A sample figure with insights is shown below.
Recent Developments by the UK Composites Market
Recent developments in UK Composites by highlighting ongoing innovations and advancements across different sectors
• Technological Advancements: Advanced manufacturing like automated fiber placement and resin transfer molding, as well nano-dimensional integration for better composite properties.
• Diversified Applications: More and more automotive is using composites for lightweighting, aerospace for structural applications and construction for architectural elements due to their durability and design flexibility.
• Sustainability Initiatives: The use of recycled carbon fibers as well as bio-based resins will be a way to promote sustainability while recycling technologies are being developed to properly handle the problem of composite waste management.
• Regulatory Compliance: Stringent environmental quality regulations, alongside strict safety standards influence on material choice made in industry and practices employed when producing them.
• Research and Development: Composite materials, manufacturing technologies, and application-specific innovations are being advanced by governmental supports as well as collaborative projects in place.
• Global Market Integration: As the UK expands her exporting opportunities after having integrated into global supply chains there by exerting herself into a competitive player in global composite market.
Strategic Growth Opportunities for UK Composites Market
There are several strategic growth opportunities present within the various sectors that make up the UK composites market. Below are key areas for growth:
1. Expansion in Aerospace and Defense
Opportunity: The weight of advanced composites make them widely used in aero-defense, with aerospace as the leading consumer. These materials are used with respect to aircraft structures, parts and military vehicles.
Impact: Investment on aerospace innovation and defense modernization leads to increasing demand for advanced composites like carbon fiber and advanced resin systems.
2. Growth in Automotive Sector
Opportunity: The automotive industry is moving towards lightweight materials that can enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Composites find application in body panels, interior parts as well as structural components.
Impact: In conformity with strict emission regulations and the trend towards electric vehicles (EVs), there will be a need for lightweight durable composite materials by the UK automotive sector.
3. Development of Renewable Energy
Opportunity: Due to their strength-to-weight ratio and durability, laminates play a crucial role in renewable energy sector particularly wind turbine blades among others.
Impact: Huge potential exists for composites in wind energy development amongst other renewable technologies because of UK’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions as well as increasing its renewable energy capacity.
4. Advancements in Construction and Infrastructure
Opportunity: Composites have such advantages as corrosion resistance plus high strength-to-weight ratios which makes them ideal for use in infrastructure projects including bridges, buildings or civil engineering applications among others.
Impact: Demand for composite materials will rise in construction from the country’s determination to revolutionize infrastructure consequently enhancing building performance standards.
5. Emergence of Advanced Composites
Opportunity: There is growing interest towards such advanced composites as carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) and glass fiber- reinforced polymer (GFRPs) which exhibit excellent performance properties desirable for niche technological applications. Impact: New markets opened up by developments and improvements in composite technologies will thus spur the UK composites sector further.
UK Composites Market Drivers and Challenges
The confluences of factors that include the increasing demand for lightweight materials, The UK composites market growth and development is influenced by several key drivers and challenges. Here’s an overview of the major drivers and challenges.
The key drivers for the UK composites market include:
• Technological Advancements: The unceasing innovations in composite materials and manufacturing technologies enhance properties such as strength, durability, and light weight.
• Growth in Aerospace and Defense: Advanced materials with high strength-to-weight ratios capable of withstanding extreme environments are essential for the aerospace and defense sectors.
• Automotive Industry Trends: Lightweight materials have become a focus on the automotive industry to improve fuel efficiency as well as reduce emissions caused during combustion. Additionally with electric vehicles coming into play innovative materials are being sought for.
• Renewable Energy Sector Expansion: Composites possess attributes that make them suitable for the manufacture of wind turbine blades among other renewable energy sources since they are highly efficient.
• Infrastructure and Construction Development: The need for durable corrosion resistant materials in construction projects thus promoting use of composites especially in bridges, buildings etc.
The key challenges for the UK composites market include
High Production Costs: Expensive raw materials plus complex manufacturing processes make production of advanced composites expensive.
Limited Raw Material Availability: Key carbon fibers available for composites together with specialized resins might run short
Complex Manufacturing Processes: Manufacturing processes in respect to molding, curing etc. are complex and require specialized equipment alongside expertise concerning manufacturing with polymers reinforced using fiber or other fillers.
Competition from Alternative Materials: Metals, polymers and traditional materials compete with composites which could be cheaper or exhibit different performance capabilities
Regulatory Compliance and Standards: It is difficult to comply with such strict regulatory norms, particularly in industries such as aerospace, automotive and medical.
Recycling and Environmental Concerns: The impact of compost materials on the environment especially on issues related to recycling and waste management is a major concern.
By addressing these areas, companies in the UK composites market can position themselves for growth and success in a dynamic and evolving industry.
UK Composites Suppliers and Their Market Shares
In this UK composites market, several key players such as, Nippon Electric Glass Co. Ltd., Owens Corning, Hexcel Corporation, Scott Bader, SGL Carbon etc. dominate the market and contribute to industry’s growth and innovation. These players capture maximum market share. To know the current market share of each of major players Contact Us
Companies in the market compete on the basis of product quality offered. Major players in this market focus on expanding their manufacturing facilities, R&D investments, infrastructural development, and leverage integration opportunities across the value chain. With these strategies UK composites companies cater increasing demand, ensure competitive effectiveness, develop innovative products & technologies, reduce production costs, and expand their customer base. Some of the UK composite materials companies profiled in this report includes.
• Nippon Electric Glass Co. Ltd.
• Owens Corning
• Hexcel Corporation
• Scott Bader
• SGL Carbon
• Huntsman Corporation
• Toray Industries Inc.
These companies have established themselves as leaders in UK composites industry with extensive product portfolios, global presence, and strong research and development capabilities. They continually strive to enhance their market positions through strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and product innovations.
The market share dynamics within UK composites market are evolving, with the entry of new players and the emergence of innovative technologies. Additionally, collaborations between material suppliers, manufacturers, and end-users are fostering technological advancements and expanding market opportunities.
UK Composites Market by Segment
The UK composites market is growing significantly across key sectors: aerospace, driven by lightweight solutions for improved fuel efficiency; automotive, adopting composites to meet emissions standards and enhance energy efficiency; renewable energy, particularly in wind turbines for their durability and corrosion resistance; construction, leveraging composites for their strength-to-weight ratio in infrastructure projects; and marine applications, where compositesÄX%$%X resistance to moisture and corrosion is valued in boat hulls and marine structures. These sectors highlight the diverse and expanding uses of composites in advancing technological and environmental goals across the UK.
This UK composites report provides a comprehensive analysis of the marketÄX%$%Xs current trends, growth drivers, challenges, and future prospects in all major segments like above. It covers various segments, including end use, fiber type, resin type and manufacturing process. The report offers insights into regional dynamics, highlighting the major markets for global transparent ceramic and their growth potentials. The study includes trends and forecast for the composites in global UK composites by end use, fiber type, resin type and manufacturing process as follows:
UK Composite Materials Market by End Use [Value ($M) and Volume (Million Pounds) Analysis for 2018 – 2030]:
• Aerospace and Defense
• Transportation
• Wind Energy
• Construction
• Others
UK Composite Materials Market by Fiber Type [Value ($M) and Volume (Million Pounds) Analysis for 2018 – 2030]:
• Glass Composites
• Carbon Composites
UK Composite Materials Market by Resin Type [Value ($M) and Volume (Million Pounds) Analysis for 2018 – 2030]:
• Polyester Composites
• Epoxy Composites
• Vinyl Ester Composites
• PA Composites
• PP Composites
• Other Composites
UK Composite Materials Market by Manufacturing Process [Value ($M) and Volume (Million Pounds) Analysis for 2018 – 2030]:
• Hand Layup
• Spray Up
• Resin Infusion
• Pultrusion
• Injection Molding
• Compression Molding
• Prepreg Layup
• Others
Features of UK Composite Materials Market
• Market Size Estimates: UK composite materials market size estimation in terms of value ($M) and volume (M lbs)
• Trend and Forecast Analysis: Market trends (2018-2023) and forecast (2024-2030) by various segments.
• Segmentation Analysis: Market size by end use, fiber type, resin type, and manufacturing process
• Growth Opportunities: Analysis of growth opportunities in different end use, fiber type, resin type, and manufacturing process for the UK composite materials market.
• Strategic Analysis: This includes M&A, new product development, and competitive landscape for the UK composite materials market.
• Analysis of competitive intensity of the industry based on Porter’s Five Forces model.
If you are looking to expand your business in UK composites market or adjacent markets, then contact us. We have done hundreds of strategic consulting projects in market entry, opportunity screening, due diligence, supply chain analysis, M & A, and more.
FAQ
Q1. What is the UK composite materials market size?
Answer: The UK composite materials market is expected to reach an estimated $735 million by 2030.
Q2. What is the growth forecast for UK composite materials market?
Answer: The UK composite materials market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3% from 2023 to 2030.
Q3. What are the major drivers influencing the growth of the UK composite materials market?
Answer: The major drivers in this market are increasing demand for lightweight materials in the aerospace & defense, automotive, and wind energy industries; the UK composite materials market will also see increased demand due to the need for materials that offer corrosion and chemical resistance in the construction industry.
Q4. What are the major applications or end use industries for UK composite materials?
Answer: Others which includes pipe and tanks, electrical and electronics, marine and consumer goods is the major end use for global composites.
Q5. What are the emerging trends in UK composite materials market?
Answer: Emerging trends, which have a direct impact on the dynamics of the UK composite materials industry, includes advanced manufacturing technologies, increasing applications in medical and healthcare, shifting towards electric vehicles (evs), aerospace and defense, and focus on sustainability.
Q6. Who are the key UK composite materials companies?
Answer: Some of the key UK composite materials companies are as follows:
• Nippon Electric Glass Co. Ltd.
• Owens Corning
• Hexcel Corporation
• Scott Bader
• SGL Carbon
• Huntsman Corporation
• Toray Industries Inc.
Q7.Which UK composite materials material segment will be the largest in future?
Answer: Lucintel forecast that glass composites will remain the largest segment over the forecast period due to the increasing use of glass composites in various applications.
Q8. Do we receive customization in this report?
Answer: Yes, Lucintel provides 10% Customization Without any Additional Cost
This report answers following 11 key questions
Q.1 What are some of the most promising potential, high-growth opportunities for the UK composite materials market by end use (aerospace and defense, transportation, wind energy, construction, and others), fiber type (glass composites, and carbon composites), resin type (polyester composites, epoxy composites, vinyl ester composites, PA composites, PP composites, and other), and manufacturing process (hand layup, spray up, resin infusion, pultrusion, injection molding, compression molding, prepreg layup, and others)?
Q. 2 Which segments will grow at a faster pace and why?
Q.3 What are the key factors affecting market dynamics? What are the drivers and challenges of the market?
Q.4 What are the business risks and threats to the market?
Q.5 What are the emerging trends in this market and the reasons behind them?
Q.6 What are the changing demands of customers in the market?
Q.7 What are the new developments in the market? Which companies are leading these developments?
Q.8 Who are the major players in this market? What strategic initiatives are being implemented by key players for business growth?
Q.9 What are some of the competitive products and processes in this area and how big of a threat do they pose for loss of market share via material or product substitution?
Q.10 What M & A activities have taken place in the last 5 years in this market?