U.S. Aramid Fiber Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Para-aramid, Meta-aramid), By Application (Security & Protection, Frictional Materials, Rubber Reinforcement, Optical Fibers), And Segment Forecasts, 2024 - 2030

U.S. Aramid Fiber Market Size & Trends

The U.S. aramid fiber market size was estimated at USD 823.8 million in 2023 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.3% from 2024 to 2030. This growth is attributed to an increasing demand in the need for personal protective gear in the country. In addition, protective equipment is essential in a variety of sectors, including healthcare/medical, mining, oil & gas, manufacturing, building & construction, and military, to safeguard workers. The demand for aramid fibers is projected to rise due to rapid industrialization and increased defense spending in the country, propelling market expansion.

Aramid fibers are robust, synthetic, and resistant to heat. These fibers are extensively used in military and aerospace applications to make ballistic-grade body armor fabric due to their beneficial properties. Aramid fibers, which exhibit excellent flame & heat resistance, neither ignite nor melt at normal oxygen levels. They are used as alternatives to metal wire and organic fiber in structural composite applications, such as ropes for offshore oil rigs, marine and aerospace sectors, automobiles, and bulletproof vests, due to their superior mechanical properties compared to other synthetic fibers.

The growing demand for protective clothing across various applications is escalating. Industries like defense, aerospace, and automotive have been key in driving the demand for aramid fibers due to their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, heat resistance, and flame retardancy. The market's growth in the country has also been aided by technological advancements and the development of new applications for aramid fibers.

Market Concentration & Characteristics

The U.S. aramid fiber market is characterized by a moderate level of innovation. Despite progress in manufacturing methods and enhancements to the product, the speed of innovation isn't as quick as in other sectors. Aramid fibers have found widespread use in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and protective clothing, leading to a fair amount of innovation.

The market sees minimal merger and acquisition activities, as it is dominated by a small number of key players, which restricts significant merger and acquisition opportunities. Furthermore, the high barriers to entry and the specialized nature of aramid fiber production make it less appealing for new entrants and consolidations.

The market has a low level of service substitutes. While alternatives like carbon fibers and fiberglass are available, they don't offer the same blend of properties as aramid fibers, such as thermal stability, high tensile strength, and flame resistance. As a result, the demand for aramid fibers remains steady.

In addition, the potential for product expansion in the market is somewhat limited. While research and development efforts are ongoing to enhance the performance and cost-effectiveness of Aramid fibers, the potential for significant product expansion is constrained by the inherent properties of the material. However, manufacturers are continually seeking new applications and modifying existing products to meet the changing needs of customers, contributing to the market's gradual growth.

Product Insights

The para-aramid led the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 82.97% in 2023. This growth is attributed to its outstanding characteristics such as excellent chemical resistance, high heat & flame resistance, high resistance to cuts, exceptional ballistic properties, and good chemical resistance. These properties are expected to drive its use in various applications including aerospace, security & protection, and frictional materials. Para-aramid fiber, a synthetic fiber, offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and exhibits high tensile strength and modulus behavior. In recent years, para-aramid fibers have become popular in various application products such as ballistic protection, wire & cables, hose reinforcement, race cars, and protective gloves.

The meta-aramid held a significant market share in 2023 due to its high resistance to chemical degradation, temperature, and abrasion. This type of aramid fiber has a unique ability to withstand tensile stress when exposed to flames and temperatures of up to 400°C. Meta-aramid fibers are used in applications such as protective clothing for military personnel, electrical insulation, auto racers, and protective equipment for various industrial sectors.

Application Insights

The security and protection segment dominated the market and held the largest share of 37.34% in 2023. The increase is ascribed to growing worries about worker safety in the military and industrial sectors, which has led to a preference for Aramid fibers in safety and protection applications. The market is expected to develop as a result of the increasing usage of aramids in stab- and bullet-resistant goods such gloves and helmets, as well as protective clothes. Leading and trailing edge panels, landing gear doors, new-generation aircraft fuselage structures, and main wings are among the aerospace components that are using more and more aramid fiber. It is anticipated that the product's attributes, such as its exceptional strength, resilience to impacts, and lightweight design, will result in increased usage.

The frictional material segment held a substantial market share in 2023 due to the extensive use of aramid fibers as an asbestos alternative for friction and sealing goods. In friction goods like clutch plates and brake pads, the substance is also utilized as reinforcement. High-pressure/temperature hoses, gaskets, and seals are other applications for them that are anticipated to support market expansion during the forecasted period.

The optical fiber segment also saw a significant revenue share in 2023 due to the use of aramid fibers as the strength member in the design and manufacturing of fiber optic cables. This is due to their beneficial properties such as low weight, flexibility, dielectricity, and handling requirements in an optical fiber cable. Applications of optical fiber include aerial dielectric self-supporting cables, premise cables, water-blocking yarns, fiber to the home (FTTH), ballistic tapes, and ripcords.

Key U.S. Aramid Fiber Company Insights

The U.S. market is moderately concentrated. While a few key players hold a dominant position, however, there is still a significant presence of smaller firms. Considerable competition among the major players is allowed by this concentration, while also providing opportunities for niche and specialized companies to prosper.

Key players in the market include du Pont de Nemours and Company; Beaver Manufacturing Company Inc.; and Leigh Fibers.

• du Pont de Nemours and Company operates across six divisions: nutrition & health, electronics & communication, industrial bioscience, safety & protection, agriculture, and performance materials. The company provides a broad spectrum of products for various sectors such as automotive, healthcare & medical, food & beverage, government & public sector, agriculture, building & construction, energy, marine, safety & protection, plastics, and mining.

• Beaver Manufacturing Company Inc. specializes in the production and development of a diverse range of industrial technical yarns, tubular yarns, processing fibers, and reinforcement fibers. Established in early 1971 to cater to the hose industry with chemically treated industrial yarns, the company has consistently enhanced and expanded its manufacturing facilities and product range.

Engineered Fiber Technology, LLC; Aramid HPM LLC; and Phillystran Inc. are some other participants in the U.S. aramid fiber market

• Engineered Fiber Technology, LLC is a frontrunner in the precision short-cut technical fibers industry, serving technical markets, including specialty papers, construction, and composites, as well as thermoplastic /thermoset molding compounds with coated fibers. EFT also boasts a unique and well-established line of wet-processed fibers, including EFTec TM Nanofibrillated fibers for filtration, wipes, and specialty papers.

Recent Developments

• In January 2024, DuPont and Point Blank Enterprises (PBE), a leading provider of protective solutions for military and law enforcement personnel, announced an exclusive partnership to supply body armor made with Kevlar® EXO™ aramid fiber to North American State and Local Law Enforcement departments.

• In April 2023, DuPont launched Kevlar® EXO™ aramid fiber, marking the most significant innovation in aramid fiber in over half a century. This new technology platform was developed to cater to a wide range of applications where high performance and protection are required under extreme conditions. The first application of Kevlar® EXO™ will be in life protection, offering an unparalleled blend of lightness, flexibility, and protection from an aramid fiber.

• In April 2023, Goodfellow Corp. debuted their new range of chemicals, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to fostering scientific innovation and providing new growth opportunities for businesses and industries. The launch focused on Rare Earth Oxides (REOs), a group of chemical compounds created by reacting rare earth metals with oxygen.

U.S. Aramid Fiber Market Report Scope

U.S. Aramid Fiber Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at a country level and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the U.S. aramid fiber market report based on product, and application.

• Product Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million; 2018 - 2030)

  • Para-aramid

  • Meta-aramid

• Application Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million; 2018 - 2030)

  • Security & Protection

  • Frictional Materials

  • Rubber Reinforcement

  • Optical Fibers

  • Tire Reinforcement

  • Electrical Insulation

  • Aerospace

  • Others