According to market research by Fuji Economic News Agency Fuji Keizai Co. Ltd, the global market based on polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP) is expected to grow to US$32.06 billion by 2030 . Compared with 2017, this will achieve a 160% increase in size and is expected to be mainly driven by aerospace and automotive applications.
Carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) are impregnated with carbon fibers and then cured. The carbon fiber will account for most of the total demand, and its value will reach 3.2 trillion yen by 2030. Matrix resin-currently accounts for about 5% of all market demand. But by 2030, this number will rise to about 12%, from 2025, this material will be used more and more in car frames and structural parts.
In the automotive field, the focus on the development of autonomous driving technology has delayed the use of CFRP and CFRTP. However, it is expected that the number of mass production models using these materials will increase by 2025.
It is predicted that CFRP and CFRTP will be gradually used in automobiles to help improve fuel economy. With the establishment of a common platform, demand may surge. Overall, by 2030, the market size of CFRP and CFRTP in the automotive industry is expected to reach 560.5 billion yen, an increase of 5.6 times from 2017.
Throughout the regional situation, European car manufacturers have taken the lead in developing and using these materials. With China's support policies and the expansion of the electric vehicle market, the demand for lighter vehicles will increase, and it is expected that the usage of Chinese automakers will increase in the future.
In the aerospace field, CFRP and CFRTP meet more and more uses in new aircraft engines, while Airbus SAS and Boeing are increasing the output of airframes made of carbon fiber composite materials, which account for about 50%. It is estimated that demand may increase further, which will be driven by the growth momentum of regional and business jets and single-aisle aircraft such as Boeing 797 in the short and medium term. In the long run, Boeing and Airbus plan to start producing fuselages with higher carbon fiber content.
Airbus plans to introduce 95% of the CFRP emission channels produced during the production process into the recycling industry between 2020 and 2025, of which 5% of the recycling volume is used to produce aircraft parts. It is expected that by some time around 2025, mature markets will take shape.