Lightweight Materials Market Report 2026

The lightweight materials market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $192.93 billion in 2025 to $205.61 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing automotive lightweighting initiatives, expansion of aerospace manufacturing activities, rising use of composites in wind energy, growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, advancements in alloy processing techniques.

The lightweight materials market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $264.48 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing adoption of lightweight materials in electric vehicles, rising investments in sustainable material innovation, expansion of lightweight construction applications, growing demand for recyclable composites, increasing use of advanced polymers in consumer electronics. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of advanced composite materials, rising use of aluminum and magnesium alloys, growing demand for lightweight polymers in electronics, expansion of high-strength metal alloys, enhanced focus on structural weight optimization.

The growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is expected to drive the expansion of the lightweight materials market. Electric vehicles, which run on electricity stored in batteries or fuel cells instead of traditional internal combustion engines, benefit from advancements in battery technology, enhanced charging infrastructure, increased environmental awareness, and ongoing technological innovation. Lightweight materials help reduce the overall weight of electric vehicles, thereby improving energy efficiency, extending battery range, and enhancing performance. For example, according to the International Energy Agency, sales of electric vehicles in 2023 rose by 3.5 million compared to 2022, marking a 35% annual increase. This surge in electric vehicle adoption is fueling the growth of the lightweight materials market.

Key players operating in the lightweight materials market are emphasizing the integration of advanced foaming technologies, such as supercritical fluid injection foaming technology, to improve weight reduction, material efficiency, and sustainability. Supercritical fluid injection foaming technology is a physical foaming process that utilizes supercritical gases, including nitrogen or carbon dioxide, during injection molding to form fine and uniform microcellular structures, enabling benefits such as reduced density, lower material usage, and enhanced cushioning performance. For example, in April 2024, Covestro AG, a Germany-based materials manufacturing company, introduced Desmopan FLY, a thermoplastic polyurethane material enabled by supercritical fluid injection foaming technology and developed for lightweight and recyclable applications. The material features fine-cell foam morphology, high mechanical resilience, and compatibility with physical foaming processes that do not require chemical blowing agents. Desmopan FLY enhances lightweight performance, supports material circularity, and improves energy efficiency in applications including footwear, sports equipment, and consumer goods.

In September 2025, Kineco Group, an India-based advanced composites and manufacturing company, acquired TRB Lightweight Structures Ltd. for an undisclosed value. Through this acquisition, Kineco Group sought to strengthen its global rail and mobility portfolio by expanding its expertise in engineered lightweight structures and increasing its presence in European transportation markets. TRB Lightweight Structures Ltd. is a UK-based engineering and manufacturing company specializing in the design and production of lightweight composite and metallic structural components and assemblies for rail, aerospace, and electric vehicle applications, with a focus on weight reduction, structural performance, and material efficiency.

Major companies operating in the lightweight materials market are 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 2025. 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, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the lightweight materials market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The lightweight materials market consists of sales of Foams, Ceramics, Natural Materials, and advanced materials. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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