Market Trends of Unidirectional Tape Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Unidirectional Tape Market according to our research experts:
Growing Demand from the Aerospace and Defense Industry
- Unidirectional tapes are manufactured from glass or carbon fiber embedded in a thermoplastic matrix and are specifically customized based on their different applications.
- Thermoset UD tapes are generally utilized across different industries, as they are less expensive, exceptionally receptive, and have ease of impregnation. High utilization of carbon fiber/epoxy composites in the aerospace Industry inferable from their lightweight, high quality and modulus, and superb fatigue performance.
- The global aerospace materials market is estimated to witness healthy growth over the forecast period due to increasing composites' usage in aircraft manufacturing and increasing government spending on military and defense in the major countries like the United States, China, India, the United Kingdom, and so on.
- According to data by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute(SIPRI), US and China accounted for the largest military expenditure in 2021 which was valued at around USD 801.0 billion and USD 293.0 billion respectively followed by India and UK at USD 76.6 billion and USD 68.4 billionrespectively.
- The global military aircraft and aerospace manufacturing market for aerospace and defense in 2021 were valued at approximately USD 255.8 billion which includes dominant players such as Boeing, Lockheed, and Northrop Grumma. The increasing investments in the research and development (R&D) of advanced composite materials by several aerospace incumbents, like The Boeing Company, and Airbus SE, among others, is also supporting the growth of the unidirectional tapes market.
- Hence, owing to the above-mentioned factors, the application of unidirectional tape from aerospace industry is likely to dominate during the forecast period.
Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Market
- The Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. The rising demand for unidirectional tape from the defense industry in countries like China and India is expected to drive the demand for unidirectional tape in this region.
- Unidirectional tapes are used to design lightweight, high-impact, strong materials for high-performance automotive applications. The Chinese automotive manufacturing industry is the largest in the world, with a production share of just over 32.5% in 2021. The industry is supported by multinational players operating large manufacturing facilities in the country.
- The growing civil aircraft fleet steadily boosts the demand for unidirectional tape in China. Moreover, in the next 20 years, the Chinese airline companies plan to purchase about 7,690 new aircraft, which are valued at about USD 1.2 trillion.
- Automotive production in India witnessed a 30% growth in 2021. The significant growth was supported by government reforms to enhance industrial production and high demand for automobiles from the end consumers in the country. As per the reports by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, SIAM, the country produced a total of 22,933,230 vehicles, including passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, three-wheelers, two-wheelers, and quadricycles, between April 2021 to March 2022. Moreover, the government's reforms, such as "Aatma Nirbhar Bharat" and "Make in India" programs, are likely to boost the automotive industry.
- According to IATA (International Air Transport Association) report, India is poised to become the third-largest aviation market in the world by the end of the forecast period. In the aerospace sector, according to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the country's aviation industry is expected to witness INR 35,000 crore (~USD 4.99 billion) investment in the next four years.
- Furthermore, according to the Global Wind Report, 2022, by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the Indian wind market outlook for 2022 and 2023 is projected at 3.2 GW and 4.1 GW of onshore wind installations respectively.
- Asia-Pacific holds a significant share in the sports and leisure equipment market, and it is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period.
- Owing to the above-mentioned factors, the market for unidirectional tape in the Asia-Pacific region is projected to grow significantly during the study period.