The global market for advanced composites consumes just over 140,000 tonnes/year of fibre reinforcements (carbon, aramid, high modulus polyethylene, boron, R/S/T-glass and some E-glass), with a combined value of $900-$1000 million (€775-€860 million). Progressive growth over the next five years will increase demand for these fibre reinforcements to 180,000 tonnes/year, although the value will only increase to ~$1.2 billion (€1 billion) in today's terms.
The reason for the disparity between volume and price is due to the fact that the price of carbon fibres will continue to fall during this period. Heavy tow carbon fibre is already available at prices as low as $12-15/kg (€10-13/kg) and could fall to $10/kg (€8.5/kg) within two years, which could drive the mass use of advanced composites in large-scale markets such as infrastructure............
