The lightweight materials market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• In the past few years, the market size for lightweight materials has seen significant growth. The projections indicate that it will increase from $181.73 billion in 2024 to $194.86 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%.
The historical growth rate is associated with heightened demand for vehicles with high fuel efficiency, a surge in the adoption of lightweight materials in the aerospace sector, global expansion of automotive production, rise in the construction of eco-friendly buildings, and strengthening of government mandates aimed at reducing emissions.
The lightweight materials market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• The market size of lightweight materials is projected to experience robust expansion in the coming years, ballooning to a valuation of $253.85 billion in 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%.
The expected growth during the forecast years is due to the increasing demand for electric vehicles, expanding urbanization, escalated investments in research and development activities, growing utilization of lightweight materials in consumer-related products, and strengthening of global commerce. Key trends for the projected period involve technological innovations, the introduction of nanomaterials, application of lightweight packaging solutions, the popularity of carbon fiber composites, and the emergence of 3D printing.
The lightweight materials market is set to expand further due to the increasing uptake of electric vehicles (EVs). These vehicles use electricity stored in batteries or fuel cells as a power source, instead of traditional internal combustion engines. The growing popularity of electric vehicles is due to innovations in battery technology, advancements in charging infrastructure, increased environmental consciousness, and continuous technological growth. Using lightweight materials in these vehicles lowers their total weight, enhancing their energy efficiency, extending their battery life, and improving overall performance. For example, the International Energy Agency, a France-based intergovernmental organization, reported a 35% annual rise in electric vehicle sales, which went up by 3.5 million in 2023 from 2022. Thus, the growing uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) is fuelling the expansion of the lightweight materials market.
The lightweight materials market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Type: Metal Alloys, Composites, Polymers
2) By Distribution Channel: Direct, Indirect
3) By Application: Automotive, Aerospace, Wind, Marine, Electronics, Construction, Consumer Goods, Other Applications
Subsegments:
1) By Metal Alloys: Aluminum Alloys, Magnesium Alloys, Titanium Alloys, High-Strength Steel Alloys, Beryllium Alloys
2) By Composites: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP), Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers (GFRP), Aramid Fiber Composites, Natural Fiber Composites, Metal Matrix Composites
3) By Polymers: Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polycarbonate (PC), Polyamide (PA), Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE)
Leading businesses in the lightweight materials sector are proactively investing in the creation of state-of-the-art products, such as polyamide 6 (PA6) polymer, in order to offer an optimal combination of mechanical features. PA6 is a man-made thermoplastic polymer, recognized for its exceptional strength, endurance, and its ability to withstand wear and tear, typically found in industries like textile, automobile components, and other industrial uses. To illustrate, Toray Industries Inc., a Japanese firm specializing in material production, introduced Toraypearl PA6 polymer in August 2022. This avant-garde PA6 polymer is created specifically for 3D printing. With its superior strength, resistance to heat, and smooth surface, this high-performance polymer is exceptional. The main aim is to augment 3D printing abilities by reducing the requirements for post-processing, refining the surface quality, and facilitating the crafting of complex and precise pieces. Toraypearl PA6 aids in creating lightweight and durable parts, thus proving its potential for utilization in the automotive industry, power tools, amongst numerous other high-performance sectors.
Major companies operating in the lightweight materials market are include:
•Exxon Mobil Corporation
• ArcelorMittal S.A.
• Rio Tinto Alcan Inc.
• Bayer AG
• Henkel Corporation
• Evonik Industries AG
• Covestro AG
• Novelis Inc.
• China Hongqiao Group Limited
• PPG Industries Inc.
• Cytec Industries Inc.
• DuPont de Nemours Inc.
• Alcoa Corporation
• Owens Corning
• Huntsman Corporation
• Formosa Plastics Corporation
• Carpenter Technology Corporation
• Materion Corporation
• Hexcel Corporation
• Kaiser Aluminum Corporation
• SGL Carbon SE
• 3A Composites GmbH
• Zoltek Companies Inc.
• Hexion Inc.
• Dead Sea Magnesium Ltd.
• Nippon Graphite Fiber Corporation
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the lightweight materials market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the lightweight materials market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.