Advanced materials market to top $133B by 2030, report says

The Business Research Company says the advanced materials market is on track to surpass $133 billion by 2030, driven by electronics, automotive, aerospace and sustainability demand. BASF SE led the market in 2024 with a 5% share in a moderately fragmented field where the top 10 companies held 22% of revenue.

Why it matters: - The advanced materials market is moving from niche industrial use toward a broader role in electronics, mobility, energy and manufacturing. - The market is projected to top $133 billion by 2030, which would make it a meaningful slice of the wider specialty chemicals industry. - Growth in this category is tied to lighter, stronger and more sustainable materials that affect product performance and supply chains.

What happened: - The Business Research Company released an Advanced Materials Market Report 2026 covering market size, trends and a global forecast for 2026-2035. - BASF SE led the global advanced materials market in 2024 with a 5% share. - The market is described as moderately fragmented, with the top 10 firms accounting for 22% of revenue in 2024. - The report places the global advanced materials market in London, with a release date of Oct. 16, 2026. - Request a free sample of the report.

The details: - The market is expected to grow at an 8% compound annual growth rate through 2030. - The market is projected to exceed $133 billion by 2030. - The broader specialty chemicals market is forecast to reach about $1.001 trillion by 2030. - Advanced materials are expected to represent about 13% of the specialty chemicals market. - The overall chemicals industry is forecast to reach $7.007 trillion by 2030, putting advanced materials at close to 2% of total market value. - Electronics and semiconductors are a major growth driver because devices need conductivity, flexibility and heat resistance. - Smartphones, wearables and smart devices are pushing demand for nanomaterials and advanced polymers. - Semiconductor advances and flexible electronics are adding an estimated 2.4% annual growth to the market. - Automotive and aerospace demand is also expanding use of composites, alloys and engineered plastics. - Electric vehicles, tighter emissions standards and thermal management needs are adding around 2.0% annual growth. - Sustainability goals are driving demand for recyclable, bio-based and low-emission materials. - Those sustainability trends are contributing an estimated 1.8% yearly growth. - Polymers are the largest product segment and are expected to account for 38% of the market, or $51 billion, by 2030. - The report also segments the market by direct and indirect distribution channels. - Application areas include medical devices, automotive, aerospace, electrical and electronics, industrial uses, power and other end markets. - Asia-Pacific is projected to be the largest regional market by 2030 at $63 billion, up from $39 billion in 2025. - China is expected to lead Asia-Pacific with a $35 billion market in 2030, up from $21 billion in 2025. - The report says polymers, metals and alloys, glasses and composites will collectively add more than $42 billion in value between 2025 and 2030. - Polymers are expected to add $16 billion, metals and alloys $12 billion, composites $9 billion and glasses $5 billion over that period. - The report says BASF supplies high-performance polymers, specialty chemicals, engineering plastics and composite materials for automotive, construction, electronics, industrial manufacturing and energy. - Other major players named include DuPont de Nemours, Dow, Toray Industries, Saint-Gobain, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, 3M, Teijin, Arkema and Akzo Nobel. - The report notes that its 2026 editions include market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrix graphics and tables, Excel dashboards, market hotspot infographics, and updated technology and trend analysis. - The Business Research Company says it has published more than 30,000 reports across 27 industries and 60 geographies.

Between the lines: - The report points to a market where scale alone is not enough; companies need R&D, manufacturing depth and quality control to compete. - BASF's lead position reflects the value of broad product coverage across end markets rather than dependence on a single application. - Asia-Pacific's projected growth suggests manufacturing capacity and electronics production remain central to future demand. - Carbon fiber composites are one visible example of product innovation, with Hexcel Corporation launching HexTow IM9 24K in March 2024 for high-performance composite applications. - The competitive field appears open enough for new product launches, collaborations and geographic expansion to matter, but specialized expertise still creates barriers.

What's next: - The report expects demand to keep rising across electronics, mobility, aerospace and sustainable material applications through 2030. - Companies are likely to keep investing in lightweight composites, smart materials and AI-driven material discovery. - Market leaders are expected to focus on manufacturing expansion and supply chain strength as the industry grows. - Access the detailed report.

The bottom line: - Advanced materials are becoming a larger industrial growth market, with BASF leading a fragmented field as demand shifts toward lighter, stronger and more sustainable products.