Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031)

Global Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites Market Trends and Insights

Construction Spend Shifting to Corrosion-Free Rebar and Bridge Decks

United States, Japan, and Gulf agencies are increasingly specifying glass- and basalt-fiber rebar to prolong bridge life under chloride attack. In 2025, 42% of the 617,000 U.S. bridges were over 50 years old, and corrosion repairs cost USD 8.3 billion annually, giving GFRP retrofits a 35% life-cycle cost advantage. Japan mandated FRP rebar in coastal highways after 15 years of successful exposure testing along the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line^{[1]Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, “Coastal Highway FRP Guidance,” mlit.go.jp} . Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project adopted GFRP for 80% of concrete structures to avoid steel oxidation in 45°C ambient conditions. Pultruded bridge decks weigh 75% less than reinforced concrete, reduce foundations by up to 30%, and demonstrated a 40-year design life on West Virginia Route 2 in 2025.

Wind-Turbine Blade Length Exceeding 120 Meters Demanding Ultra-High-Strength GFRP

Turbine makers now deploy rotor diameters above 240 m, which push blade lengths past 120 m and require spar caps with tensile strength over 1,200 MPa. Vestas introduced a 15 MW turbine in 2024 featuring 115.5-m blades incorporating high-modulus glass fiber that cuts blade mass by 8 t per unit. China installed 75 GW of wind capacity in 2025, 60% offshore, and manufacturers shifted to low-void resin-transfer molding to withstand ten-million-cycle fatigue loads. Siemens Gamesa’s thermoplastic RecyclableBlade enables 95% material recovery, aligning with the EU 2028 recycling rule.

Lightweighting Mandates in EV Platforms Favoring Thermoplastic CFRP

European targets of 93.6 g CO₂/km for 2025 vehicles and China’s dual-credit policy motivate OEMs to adopt CFRP battery housings, floor pans, and pillars. BMW’s iX5 Hydrogen uses a PA6-CFRP monocoque saving 150 kg over aluminum while retaining crash integrity. Thermoplastic matrices cut cycle times to under three minutes and allow welding instead of adhesive bonding, reducing assembly labor by 15%. Tesla’s 2025 Cybertruck employs compression-molded CFRP bed liners that trim 22 kg per vehicle. Covestro’s PolyLoop plant recovered 500 t of end-of-life CFRP in 2025 with 90% retained fiber strength, supporting closed-loop car parts. 

Retrofitting of Aging Bridges in U.S., Japan, and EU With FRP Wraps

Infrastructure owners wrap deteriorated concrete columns with carbon- or glass-fiber fabrics, restoring capacity for 30–50 years at one-third the replacement cost. The U.S. Bridge Investment Program assigned USD 2.4 billion in 2025, with 18% for FRP wraps on 1,200 West-Coast bridges. Japan’s expressway operator raised shear strength by 60% using Torayca carbon fabric on 340 piers in 2025. Italy applied basalt-fiber wraps on 85 viaduct columns, achieving a cost-effective corrosion barrier. Florida measured zero chloride ingress on wrapped columns of the Seven Mile Bridge over five years.

Volatile Carbon-Fiber Prices Hurting Automotive Cost Targets

Export restrictions on Russian polyacrylonitrile raised precursor prices 18% in 2025, forcing OEMs to absorb USD 4–6 per-kg increases that jeopardize sub-USD 35,000 EV programs. Toyota replaced planned CFRP roof panels on the 2026 Prius with aluminum to protect margins. SGL Carbon and Toray fixed five-year offtake contracts at 12% above 2024 spot prices, transferring volatility upstream. Recycled fiber from ELG retains 90% strength at 40% below virgin cost but suits only non-structural parts. Hexcel shifted 30% of precursor output to a lower-cost U.S. site to blunt European energy spikes.

EU End-of-Life Recycling Gap Triggering Landfill Restrictions

The 2025 EU Waste Framework Directive classifies thermoset scrap as non-recyclable unless processed by certified routes, yet only 12% of 280,000 t composite waste enters approved facilities^{[2]European Commission, “Waste Framework Directive 2025 Revision,” europa.eu} . Wind-blade decommissioning will generate 2.8 million t of scrap by 2035, but pyrolysis plants operate at 15% utilization because sub-USD 80 tipping fees do not cover USD 120 processing costs. Veolia opened a 10,000 t solvolysis plant recovering 98% fiber, although high-temperature processing adds USD 2.50 kg to recycled material costs. California banned composite landfill disposal in 2025, compelling boat builders to stockpile hulls until commercial capacity expands. Japan proposed an extended-producer-responsibility levy of 3% product revenue to fund take-back schemes. 

Segment Analysis

By Resin Type: Thermoplastics Gain on Recyclability and Speed

Thermoset held 71.06% of 2025 revenue, dominated by epoxy and polyester chemistries specified for corrosion resistance and low-cost open-mold processing. Epoxy captured high thermoset demand because its superior adhesion pairs with carbon fiber in aerospace prepregs. Polyester served in cost-driven marine and tank markets, while vinyl ester filled in highly corrosive chemical plants.

Thermoplastic will grow at 6.15% CAGR through 2031 as carmakers pivot to recyclable matrices. Polypropylene compounds reinforced with 40% glass fiber now form door-module carriers that cut weight 35% and mold in 90 seconds at annual volumes above 500,000 units. Polyamide 6 and 66 secure thermoplastic revenue for under-hood parts operating up to 150 °C. High-performance PEEK, though costly, expanded in aircraft seat structures that demand flame-smoke-toxicity compliance.Covestro’s PolyLoop recovered 500 t of end-of-life PA6-CFRP in 2025 with 90% strength retention, proving a closed-loop brake unavailable to thermosets. BMW combines thermoplastic skins with epoxy cores in battery covers for higher impact absorption while retaining stiffness, illustrating hybrid architectures that deepen fiber reinforced polymer composites market adoption. 

By Fiber Type: CFRP Surges in Aerospace and Premium EVs

Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) accounted for 91.18% of 2025 volume because its USD 2.50 kg cost and 2,400 MPa tensile strength satisfy construction, wind, and marine needs. China Jushi raised capacity to 3.2 million t in 2025, lowering glass fiber prices 8% and squeezing Western suppliers. 

Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) will expand at an 11.14% CAGR to 2031 as aerospace OEMs ramp composite airframes and premium EVs adopt structural battery enclosures. Boeing’s 787 and Airbus A350 programs jointly consumed 3,000 t of fiber in 2025. Porsche’s 2024 Taycan roof and bulkhead lowered center-of-gravity 12 mm, validating structural performance premiums. Standard-modulus grades delivered higher CFRP volume, while high-modulus variants served satellites and Formula 1 monocoques requiring more than 200 GPa stiffness-to-weight ratios. Basalt fiber is used for fire-resistant tunnel linings, retaining 85% strength at 600 °C.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Reinforcement Form: Prepregs Accelerate in Aerospace

Rovings commanded 33.72% of 2025 revenue and remain vital for filament-wound pressure vessels, piping, and bridge decks where continuous orientation yields hoop strength over 1,000 MPa. Spray-up rovings persist in cost-focused marine parts, yet styrene-emission rules spur a gradual shift to closed molds.

Prepreg will grow 6.26% CAGR through 2031 as out-of-autoclave (OOA) aerospace programs scale. Hexcel’s 120 °C-curing OOA system for Boeing 777X wing skins trimmed part cost 35% by eliminating high-pressure autoclaves. Thermoplastic prepregs support three-minute press cycles; Toray’s PPS-based sheet enabled BMW to merge 12 aluminum parts into one compression-molded battery tray. Sheet- and bulk-molding compounds retain relevance for high-volume automotive hoods and seat backs where cycle times under four minutes are mandatory.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By End-user Industry: Transportation Leads on Lightweighting

Transportation controlled 29.12% share in 2025 and is poised for a 5.61% CAGR as regulators tighten emissions and range metrics. General Motors trimmed 48 kg from the 2025 Cadillac Celestiq with CFRP roof and quarter panels, enabling a 520 km range from a 111 kWh battery. Wabash National’s molded-structural-composite trailers weigh 680 kg less than aluminum and recoup the USD 3,200 premium within 18 months via payload gains.

Building and construction is expanding due to corrosion-proof rebar and pultruded profiles. Florida’s Brightline guideways use GFRP to reach 75-year design lives. Electrical and electronics is also growing thanks to epoxy-glass laminates that satisfy UL 94 V-0 and 20 kV/mm dielectric needs across 850 million m² of printed-circuit-board output in 2025. Marine, sports, and consumer goods round out segment demand, leveraging salt-water resistance and lightweight benefits. 

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

Geography Analysis

Asia-Pacific dominated the fiber reinforced polymer composites market with a 45.22% share in 2025 and is projected to grow at 6.08% CAGR. China’s 75 GW wind additions used 18 kg GFRP per kW and spurred 520,000 t of new glass-fiber capacity by regional leaders. India’s USD 1.4 trillion National Infrastructure Pipeline allocates 12% to corrosion-resistant materials, translating to 180,000 t annual GFRP rebar demand by 2028. Japan now mandates FRP rebar in coastal highways after 15-year exposure trials proved zero degradation.  

In North America, U.S. Bridge Investment Program earmarked USD 2.4 billion in 2025, with 18% for FRP wraps on 1,200 bridges. Boeing’s South Carolina and Washington plants consumed 1,200 t CFRP for 787 and 777X programs in 2025. Ontario attracted USD 420 million composite capital as GM and Stellantis localized EV underbody parts. 

In Europe, Germany installed 8.2 GW of wind capacity in 2025, 55% offshore, demanding blades above 100 m with hybrid carbon-glass spar caps. The EU Waste Framework Directive requires 25% recycled content in composites by 2028, triggering EUR 38 million pyrolysis investments by Owens Corning and Veolia. Airbus increased A350 output to nine per month, adding 1,800 t CFRP demand at Stade and Illescas. 

South America captured demand as Brazil’s wind fleet reached 28 GW with 85% located in high-capacity Northeast zones demanding 9,600 t GFRP blades in 2025. Middle-East and Africa together held lower share yet promise a growth in nearby future. Saudi Arabia’s NEOM calls for 140,000 t GFRP rebar through 2030. South Africa added 3.2 GW wind capacity in 2024-2025, with Siemens Gamesa supplying 115-m blades using 16 kg GFRP per kW.