Aerospace Materials Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Aerospace Materials Market is projected to expand significantly, rising from USD 44.81 Billion in 2025 to USD 73.71 Billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 8.65%. This market comprises advanced performance materials, including titanium, aluminum alloys, superalloys, and composites, which are engineered to enhance the durability and aerodynamic efficiency of aircraft structures and engines. The primary momentum behind this growth is the increasing need for lightweight, fuel-efficient fleets to achieve sustainability goals, coupled with a strong recovery in commercial aviation that demands extensive fleet maintenance and expansion. As reported by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2024, global passenger traffic rose by 10.4% year-over-year, creating immediate demand for new aircraft manufacturing and aftermarket components.

Despite this upward trajectory, the industry confronts substantial hurdles related to supply chain instability and the scarcity of essential raw materials. The complex logistics involved in sourcing premium metals and composite precursors are highly vulnerable to geopolitical tensions and production bottlenecks. Such disruptions often lead to prolonged lead times and rising procurement costs, which can severely restrict manufacturing capabilities and hinder the sector's ability to address the accumulating backlog of aircraft orders.

Market Drivers

The escalation in global air passenger traffic and the subsequent expansion of commercial fleets serve as the main engines of growth for the aerospace materials industry. As airlines work to rebuild capacity and manage increased travel volumes, manufacturers are accelerating production rates, thereby boosting the consumption of carbon fiber composites, titanium, and aluminum alloys. According to Boeing's 'Commercial Market Outlook 2024 to 2043' released in July 2024, the aviation sector is expected to require approximately 44,000 new commercial aircraft over the coming two decades to satisfy this rising demand. This intense ordering cycle places unprecedented strain on suppliers to finalize long-term agreements and increase output, a pressure underscored by IATA's 2024 report indicating a record global backlog of 17,000 new aircraft that requires a continuous supply of raw materials to fulfill.

Simultaneously, growing global defense spending is reshaping the market landscape, specifically driving demand for materials capable of high performance and stealth. Rising geopolitical friction has prompted nations to upgrade their air forces with next-generation fighter jets and unmanned aerial systems, necessitating specialized composites and advanced superalloys that can endure extreme operating conditions. This strategic pivot is highlighted by significant financial commitments to military procurement; as detailed by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in April 2024, total global military spending reached a historic peak of $2.44 trillion in 2023. Such increased fiscal investment guarantees consistent demand for specialized aerospace materials, acting as a crucial stabilizer against economic fluctuations in the commercial sector.

Market Challenges

Supply chain instability and the shortage of essential raw materials constitute a significant impediment to the growth of the Global Aerospace Materials Market. The intricate logistical networks required to obtain high-quality metals and composite precursors introduce vulnerabilities that frequently result in prolonged lead times and volatile procurement costs. These disruptions directly constrain the manufacturing capabilities of aircraft original equipment manufacturers, hindering the timely processing of raw materials into the finished structural components and engine parts necessary for fleet renewal.

Consequently, the failure to maintain a reliable stream of materials creates a growing disparity between confirmed orders and actual deliveries. This bottleneck limits revenue generation for material suppliers, who find themselves unable to efficiently meet the rising volume of contracts. According to data from the ADS Group, the global aircraft order backlog climbed to a record 15,668 aircraft in the first half of 2024, emphasizing the severity of production limitations caused by these supply chain constraints. This accumulation of unfilled orders illustrates how material shortages effectively place a ceiling on market performance and retard industrial momentum, even amidst strong demand signals.

Market Trends

The expansion of additive manufacturing metal powder portfolios is fundamentally transforming the global aerospace materials supply chain by facilitating the creation of complex, lightweight engine components with minimal material waste. In contrast to traditional subtractive manufacturing, which often involves high buy-to-fly ratios, additive techniques enable suppliers to use specialized nickel superalloy and titanium powders to print parts on demand, thereby bypassing the extended lead times typical of conventional forgings. Major tier-one suppliers are aggressively adopting this shift to protect their production lines from raw material volatility and rising energy costs, exemplified by GKN Aerospace's January 2024 announcement of a £50 million investment in Sweden to enhance additive fabrication infrastructure and reduce raw material usage by up to 80%.

Concurrently, the increasing adoption of Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) in engine sections is establishing new standards for propulsion efficiency by allowing for higher operating temperatures than traditional metallic superalloys can sustain. Engine manufacturers are incorporating these silicon carbide-based materials into combustor liners and high-pressure turbine shrouds to reduce the requirement for cooling air, which directly enhances specific fuel consumption and thermal efficiency. This transition in materials is intrinsically tied to the commercial production ramp-up of next-generation engines that rely on CMCs to achieve strict environmental performance goals; highlighting this demand, GE Aerospace reported in October 2024 that total commercial engine and services orders rose by 29% year-over-year, propelled by the enduring backlog of LEAP engines utilizing these advanced technologies.

Key Players Profiled in the Aerospace Materials Market

• 3M Company
• Acerinox, S.A.
• Akzo Nobel NV
• Aluminum Corporation of China Limited
• Arkema SA
• Advanced Technology International (ATI)
• Axalta Coating Systems, LLC
• BASF SE
• Beacon Adhesives Inc.
• CRS Holdings, LLC

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Aerospace Materials Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Aerospace Materials Market, by Type:

• Structural and Non-structural

Aerospace Materials Market, by Aircraft:

• General and Commercial
• Military and Defense
• and Space Vehicles

Aerospace Materials Market, by Region:

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

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Aerospace Materials Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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