European composites production decreased by around three percent in 2025. Total production volume declined to approximately 2,281 kilotonnes, compared with 2,351 kilotonnes in 2024. Although the market therefore continued to contract, the decline slowed compared with earlier forecasts.
At the same time, demand for composite components is developing positively. European manufacturers, however, are increasingly facing competition from suppliers outside Europe. Demand growth is therefore only partially reflected in European production volumes.
Despite the current market environment, composites continue to offer potential in various applications. Their material properties support use in lightweight construction, products exposed to demanding environmental conditions and technical optimisation. In addition, sustainability assessments are becoming increasingly relevant. Composite materials can contribute both to the substitution of conventional materials and to the development of new product concepts.
Scope of the report
The market analysis covers materials with thermosetting matrices in the field of glass fibre reinforced plastics (GRP). Non-crimp fabrics (NCF) are recorded separately.
The thermoplastic segment includes long fibre reinforced thermoplastics (LFT), glass mat reinforced thermoplastics (GMT) and continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP). Production volumes for short glass fibre reinforced thermoplastics, natural fibre reinforced plastics and carbon fibre reinforced plastics are aggregated and reported separately.
European market weaker than global trend
According to estimates by JEC, the global composites market reached between 13.3 and 15.9 million tonnes in 2025. The wide range reflects two scenarios with differing assumptions. Overall, global growth of around one percent is expected.
Against this background, the European composites market 2025 developed more slowly than the global market. Europe’s share of global production ranges between 14 and 17 percent depending on the scenario. Market shares therefore continue to shift towards Asia and the Americas.
Within Europe, development varies significantly between regions. Differences in key application sectors, the range of materials processed and the diversity of manufacturing processes contribute to this heterogeneous development.
In terms of volume, the transportation sector remains the largest application area, accounting for nearly half of total composites production. Other important sectors include electrical and electronic applications as well as construction and infrastructure.
Thermoset composites market
Production of thermoset composites in Europe reached around 952 kilotonnes in 2025, compared with 983 kilotonnes in the previous year. This corresponds to a market share of 41.7 percent of total European composites production.
In recent years, thermoplastics have gained market share at the expense of thermoset materials. In 2025, however, this shift slowed. One reason is the strong dependence of thermoplastic composites on the automotive sector. More than 60 percent of thermoplastic materials are used in transportation applications.
The main application areas for thermoset composites remain construction and infrastructure as well as transportation. Declines were recorded particularly in transportation and electrical and electronic applications.
Thermoplastic composites market
The thermoplastic composites segment recorded a production volume of 1,329 kilotonnes in 2025, compared with 1,368 kilotonnes in 2024. Market volume therefore declined by 2.9 percent, which is broadly in line with the overall market trend.
Despite the decline in absolute production, the market share of thermoplastic systems increased slightly to 58.3 percent.
Transportation is the dominant application sector for thermoplastic composites, accounting for almost two thirds of total demand. Passenger cars and commercial vehicles represent the largest share within this segment. Together with electrical and electronic applications, these sectors account for approximately 86 percent of the market.
The passenger car market plays a central role in the development of thermoplastic composites. Structural challenges in the European automotive industry, particularly in Germany, are increasingly affecting suppliers of composite components. A decline in vehicle production in Europe directly reduces demand for locally manufactured composite parts.
GRP market by process
In the glass fibre reinforced plastics segment, all processes examined in the market report recorded declines in production volumes in 2025.
Sheet moulding compound (SMC) and bulk moulding compound (BMC) remain the largest individual segment. These materials are widely used in series applications in the transportation, electrical and electronics, and construction sectors.
Non-crimp fabrics form the second largest group, followed by open mould processes. Other processing methods recorded similar production volumes.
Regional market structure
Regional market shares in Europe changed only marginally in 2025. Nevertheless, all regions recorded slight declines in absolute production volumes.
Germany remained the largest composites producer in Europe with a thermoset production volume of 180 kilotonnes, compared with 187 kilotonnes in 2024. The country accounted for around 18.9 percent of the total market. The decline reflects the strong dependence of German production on the automotive industry.
Eastern Europe slightly exceeded Germany for the first time, reaching a combined volume of 182 kilotonnes and a market share of 19.1 percent. The region includes Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Spain and Portugal together formed the third largest processing region with 141 kilotonnes, followed by Italy with 134 kilotonnes. These four regions accounted for more than two thirds of European composites production.
The United Kingdom and Ireland reached a combined market share of 13.9 percent with a processing volume of 132 kilotonnes. France followed with 99 kilotonnes and a market share of 10.4 percent.
Smaller processing regions include the Benelux countries, which accounted for 3.6 percent of the market. Northern Europe, comprising Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, recorded slightly lower volumes. Austria and Switzerland together represented the smallest regional share.
Given the differing industrial structures across Europe, market developments vary considerably between countries. A European market overview therefore primarily highlights overarching trends rather than uniform developments across all regions.
