Recycled Carbon Fiber Market

Recycled Carbon Fiber Market Snapshot (2022 to 2032)

[236 Pages Report] According to FMI, the global recycled carbon fiber market is estimated to value around USD 54.9 million in 2022, registering a Y-O-Y growth of 11.0%. Recycled carbon fiber sales are projected to increase at a healthy CAGR of 12.3% by 2032. The increasing usage and demand for recycled carbon fiber in the automotive & transportation industries is a key factor driving the global demand.

Attribute	Details
Base Year Value (2021A)	USD 49.5 million
Estimated Year Value (2022E)	USD 54.9 million
Projected Year Value (2032F)	USD 174.7 million
Value CAGR (2022 to 2032)	12.3%
Collective Value Share: Top 3 Countries Worldwide (2022E)	41.2%

Europe remains a prominent market owing to significant strategies in waste management and a growing focus on a circular economy. Market participants in Europe are focusing on decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and are tilting their focus toward green technology. All these have been attributed to the dominance of Europe in the global market of recycled fiber.

According to the latest research published by Future Market Insights, global recycled carbon fiber demand is anticipated to hold ~2-5% of the market share in overall carbon fiber consumption.

2017 to 2021 Recycled Carbon Fiber market outlook compared to 2022 to 2032 forecast

The demand for recycled carbon fiber grew at a 9.8% CAGR between 2017 and 2021. The recycled carbon fiber market is in its infancy stage and has gained traction due to the awareness of its end uses. Growing focus on environmental regulations as well as the dumping duty has prompted carbon fiber manufacturers to recycle carbon fiber.

The demand for recycled carbon fiber is expected to increase during the assessment period and is further expected to witness a significant growth rate of 12.3% in the same period. The use of recycled carbon fiber in automotive and transportation, sporting goods, industrial applications, and increased regulation towards the environment, prompting the circular economy, is expected to uplift the consumption of recycled carbon fiber.

Download Report Brochure

How is automotive & transportation sector fortifying the recycled carbon fiber market growth?

The market for recycled carbon fiber is notably being driven by the automotive and transportation sectors. The use of recycled carbon fiber helps address the issue of reducing the overall vehicle weight. Vehicles that are more fuel-efficient have been made possible by recycled carbon fiber. Manufacturers use recycled carbon fiber because of its great properties to reduce component downtime and extend the life of their products.

Numerous cars and trucks, some of which are manufactured from recycled carbon fiber, have been released by major manufacturers. The BMW Company uses recycled carbon fiber in vehicle parts like the roof. Additionally, composite floor panels, composite tailgates, and composite front benders all make use of recycled carbon fiber. Recycled carbon fiber is being used as a result of a demand for lighter vehicles.

According to FMI, the automotive & transportation segment is expected to grow at a robust CAGR of 12.7% during the forecast period.

Which factors are pushing manufacturer to recycle carbon fiber?

According to EU law, the automotive industry should recycle 85% of its waste generation. Recovery of CF trash and the creation of new goods using less energy than 10% of that required to create the CF initially can help meet legislative and sustainability goals. Recycled Carbon Fiber aids in lowering greenhouse emissions by using less fuel because it is used to make lighter automotive bodywork.

With the awareness of a sustainable environment and increasing landfilling costs, many end users are consuming recycled carbon fiber due to its high value and low cost. Several manufacturers are offering recycled carbon fiber, which can be reintroduced in the process. Meanwhile, a collaboration between manufacturers and researchers has aided in the recovery and reuse of carbon fibers, reintroducing them into the circular economy.

How is recycled carbon fiber finding its way in sporting goods?

The major objective of the cost proposal is to reduce the cost of lightweight carbon fiber composites by 50%. As compared to virgin industrial fiber, the cost of the fiber is typically 30 to 40% less expensive. In light of this, recycled fiber can provide weight-saving benefits comparable to those of virgin fiber at a significantly reduced cost, making it suitable for sporting goods. Carbon fiber from recycled sources is replacing old hardwood sporting equipment.

The Carbon Fiber Circular Demonstration Project was initiated, focusing on recycling carbon fiber from the sports equipment industry. Fibers from worn-out or damaged carbon fiber components used in sporting goods are recovered and realigned into prepreg tapes. The tapes will be returned to the alliance's producers, who will use the material in brand-new sporting products. According to preliminary demonstration data, the new carbon fiber tape occasionally performs better than the original virgin fiber.

Can recycled carbon fiber be used again in aviation sector?

Aviation scrap generation could be a substantial source of recyclable materials. An emerging trend in aviation is the use of thermoplastic composites, which can allow for recycling and the use of used carbon fiber. Given that numerous thermoplastic composite materials are already employed in the manufacture of airplanes, the required technology and equipment are easily accessible. In contrast, it is anticipated that between 6000 and 8000 commercial airplanes will reach the end of their useful lives by 2030.

At that time, they will be disassembled and their high-grade carbon fiber components can be recycled. A number of initiatives have shown that it is possible to make high-quality thermoplastic composites using recycled carbon fiber in a way that is both practical and affordable for the environment.

In a project to look at costs over the course of the material's whole life cycle, the Dutch companies Fokker, Toray, and others with knowledge of design, processing, and recycling took part. It was discovered that using recycled carbon fiber is financially advantageous. Numerous projects are currently underway to investigate the use of recycled carbon fiber in the aviation industry and are expected to open up new prospects for use.

How is lack of recycled carbon fiber utilization knowledge impeding the market growth?

The growth of the recycled carbon fiber market is being restricted by a lack of technical expertise. Many carbon fiber consumers believe that recycled carbon fiber falls short of virgin carbon fiber in quality. Recycled carbon fiber's mechanical characteristics and processing attributes are not well understood.

The proper processing technology must be used for the recycled carbon fiber to be of the same quality as virgin carbon fiber. Many recyclers lack a thorough technical understanding of process standardization.

Country-wise Insights

What will be the demand outlook of the Recycled Carbon Fiber market in the USA?

The USA is expected to remain one of the leading markets in North America for Recycled Carbon Fiber. The USA market is expected to reach about USD 43.0 million by the end of the forecast period and has a percentage share of 88.3% for the Recycled Carbon Fiber market in North America.

The increasing number of new entrants in the country such as Vartega, Mallinda, and others are promoting the usage and technical advantages of recycled carbon fiber. Over the forecast period, rising trends to minimize carbon emissions and increasing use of recycled carbon fiber in the automotive industry are anticipated to propel recycled carbon fiber market expansion.

What factors are bolstering the demand for Recycled Carbon Fiber in China?

In an effort to reach its 2030 carbon emissions peak and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, China seeks to recycle 25% of its textile waste and produce 2 million tonnes of recycled fiber by 2025, according to a document jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The country is supporting low-carbon, environmentally friendly textile production; expanding China's recycling infrastructure; and maximizing the use of textile waste. By 2030, it is also anticipated that manufacturers and consumers will have a much-increased understanding of the value of recycling.

The recycled carbon fiber market in China is expected to create a dollar opportunity of USD 11.8 million during the forecast period. The increased consumption of Recycled Carbon Fiber is backed by the automotive industry as it is used to effectively reduce vehicle weight.

Category-wise Insights

Which type of Recycled Carbon Fiber to gain traction in the coming years?

On the basis of type, the market is divided into chopped and milled recycled carbon fiber. In these, chopped recycled carbon fibers are the dominating segment owing to their increased consumption in end-use industries. It is most frequently utilized in injection molding compounding and thermoplastic compounding procedures for products ranging from athletic goods to automobiles and electronics.

This segment is anticipated to witness significant growth in both volume and value. Among the product type, the share of chopped Recycled Carbon Fiber is estimated to stand at more than two third in 2022 by value. The aqueous product form of Recycled Carbon Fiber is estimated to grow at 12.4% CAGR during the forecast period.

Which end-use industry is dominating recycled carbon fiber consumption?

The automotive and transportation end-use industries are the largest industries, followed by industrial. One of the main factors propelling the global expansion of the recycled carbon fiber market is the rising use and demand for recycled carbon fiber in the automotive and transportation industries. The challenge of decreasing the overall vehicle weight is addressed through the use of recycled carbon fiber.

Recycled carbon fiber is used by manufacturers because of its excellent capabilities to decrease component downtime and increase product lifespan. The automotive & transportation segment of Recycled Carbon Fiber is expected to create an incremental dollar opportunity of USD 49.7 million during the forecast period.

On the basis of the region, Europe & North America are dominating the recycled carbon fiber market owing to the presence of a large number of carbon fiber recyclers in this region. Europe is expected to maintain its dominancy as EU law mandated that 85% of automobiles be recyclable in the automotive sector.

Competitive Landscape

In order to maintain competition and fortify their positions on the global stage, key players are focusing more on collaborations, expansion, and expanding their production capacities in order to stay competitive and strengthen their global positions. Key market players are also launching new products in order to compete with other market players. For Instance

• In August 2022, the Vartega increased its production capacity up to 2,000 metric tons per year. The newly finished Building 2 of Denver, Colorado's Pecos Logistics Park, which is owned by institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives, will house Vartega's new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and headquarters.
• In March 2022, Apply Carbon, a Procotex Corp. SA subsidiary, will invest in order to increase its production of recycled carbon fibers and to simplify the integration of Gen 2 Carbon's short carbon fiber business (Formerly ELG Carbon Fiber Ltd.). This merger will produce cutting-edge process capabilities, as well as increased quality and capacity to meet the growing need for recycled carbon fiber on a global scale.

Scope of Report

Attribute	Details
Forecast Period	2022 to 2032
Historical Data Available for	2017 to 2021
Market Analysis	USD Million for Value and Tons for Volume
Key Countries Covered	The USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Italy, France, The United Kingdom, Spain, Russia, BENELUX, China, Japan, South Korea, India, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand, GCC Countries, Turkey, and South Africa.
Key Segments Covered	Product Type, Source Type, Application, & Region.
Key Companies Profiled	Toray Industries Inc.; SGL Carbon; Gen 2 Carbon; Karborek Recycling Carbon Fibers; Carbon Conversion; Shocker Composites; Alpha Recylage Composites; Procotex Corporation SA; Vartega INC.; Carbon Fiber Recylin Inc.; Carbon Fiber Remanufacturing
Report Coverage	Market Forecast, Company Share Analysis, Competition Intelligence, DROT Analysis, Market Dynamics and Challenges, and Strategic Growth Initiatives
Customization & Pricing	Available upon Request

Recycled Carbon Fiber Market by Category

By Type:

• Chopped
• Milled

By Source:

• Wind & Turbine Scrap
• Aerospace Scrap
• Others

By End Use:

• Automotive & Transportation
• Consumer Goods
• Sporting Goods
• Marine
• Industrial

By Region:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• East Asia
• South Asia & Pacific
• Middle East & Africa

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current Recycled Carbon Fiber market value?

The recycled carbon fiber market is anticipated to reach a valuation of USD 54.9 Mn in 2022.

What is the demand outlook for Recycled Carbon Fiber?

Demand for recycled carbon fiber is anticipated to witness a growth rate of 12.3% over the forecast period of 2022 and 2032 in terms of value.

What are some of the Recycled Carbon Fiber Startups?

Vartega, Bcircular, Mallinda, and others are some of the prominent Recycled Carbon Fiber Startups.

Who are the leading players in the Recycled Carbon Fiber market?

Toray Industries Inc., Carbon Conversions Inc., SMC Global PLC, Alpha Recyclage Composites, and others are the leading players in the market.

Which end use industry is dominating the recycled carbon fiber?

The automotive & transportation end-use industry is the largest industry followed by industrial. Growing consumption of Recycled Carbon Fiber in end-use industries is bolstering the market growth.