Aerospace Raw Materials Market Size, Growth Report, 2033

Aerospace Raw Materials Market Overview

The Aerospace Raw Materials Market size was valued at USD 27617.9 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 33825.27 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 2.3% from 2025 to 2033.

The global aerospace raw materials market reached usage of approximately 14 million metric tons in 2023, supporting commercial aircraft, business jets, helicopters, and defense platforms. Aluminium alloys comprised approximately 6 million metric tons (43 percent), followed by titanium alloys at 2.8 million metric tons (20 percent), super alloys at 2 million metric tons (14 percent), steel alloys at 1.5 million metric tons (11 percent), and composite materials at 1.7 million metric tons (12 percent). Regional demand was led by North America at 4.2 million metric tons, Europe at 3.8 million metric tons, Asia‑Pacific at 3.5 million metric tons, and Middle East & Africa at 1.5 million metric tons. By application, commercial aircraft consumed 8 million metric tons, accounting for 57 percent of total material demand; business and general aviation used 2 million metric tons; helicopters required 1 million metric tons; and other aerospace applications absorbed 3 million metric tons. Key drivers included fleet growth—over 39,000 commercial aircraft in service worldwide—and rising defense material requirements, with 16,000 military aircraft and helicopters active. The average material usage per commercial airframe was roughly 50 metric tons, while business jets used 5 metric tons per aircraft, highlighting the volume-centric nature of aerospace raw materials consumption.

Key Findings

Driver: Expansion in commercial aircraft fleets (over 39,000 units) pushed global aerospace raw material demand to 14 million metric tons.

Country/Region: North America led consumption at 4.2 million metric tons, accounting for 30 percent of total material usage.

Segment: Aluminium alloys remained dominant at 6 million metric tons, representing 43 percent of all aerospace raw materials.

Aerospace Raw Materials Market Trends

A wide range of trends is reshaping the aerospace raw materials market. Fleet modernization continues to elevate aluminium alloy requirements. In 2023, aluminium alloy intake rose to 6 million metric tons, with renewed narrow-body programs alone demanding 2.5 million metric tons. Demand for heat-resistant super alloys for jet engines remains strong, reaching 2 million metric tons, including 0.7 million metric tons of single-crystal nickel-based alloys and 0.5 million metric tons of cobalt–nickel super alloys. Titanium alloy adoption climbed with 2.8 million metric tons in use, heavily applied in nacelle and wing structures, and 0.4 million metric tons of high-strength titanium forgings used in defense rotorcraft. Composite materials continued capturing aerospace share, with 1.7 million metric tons applied in fixed-wing and rotorcraft airframes. In 2023, composite intake for fuselage and wing structures reached 0.8 million metric tons, supporting the 9,000 new widebody and narrowbody orders placed that year. Use of carbon fiber reinforced polymer increased by 10 percent in corporate jet programs alone, adding 0.1 million metric tons of composites. Market responsiveness to weight reduction targets accelerated composite integration, with composite fraction rising from 40 percent to 45 percent of primary structure mass. Steel alloys remained critical for landing gear and fastener systems, consuming 1.5 million metric tons, including 0.6 million metric tons of corrosion-resistant steels. Regional military helicopter expansions contributed 0.3 million metric tons of stainless-steel structures in Asia‑Pacific. Meanwhile, aerospace-grade additive manufacturing using super alloy powders (totaling 0.05 million metric tons) gained traction in engine parts production. Defense modernization propelled raw material demand, with 16,000 military aircraft and helicopters in service, including 4,500 new airframes added in 2023 requiring 1 million metric tons of material. Notably, titanium alloy intake for defense platforms grew by 15 percent, equalling 0.6 million metric tons. Countries such as the U.S. and China each consumed over 0.2 million metric tons of defense-grade titanium. Environmental sustainability drove packaging, recycling, and material certification standards. In 2023, 0.3 million metric tons of scrap aluminium alloys were recycled into new aerospace-grade billets. Certified low-CO₂ aluminium production lines processed 0.5 million metric tons, and ESA mandated traceability for composite materials used in 1,000 civilian certification cases. Emerging electric vertical aircraft (eVTOL) prototypes added new material demands—0.05 million metric tons of aluminium and 0.02 million metric tons of composites were consumed by 2023, with expectations of double-digit growth annually. Innovations in thermoplastic composites began to enter interior and secondary structure markets, accounting for 0.15 million metric tons, signifying a step toward weight and cost optimization.

Aerospace Raw Materials Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Fleet expansion and modernization initiatives

Commercial aircraft holdings exceeded 39,000 airliners in 2023. Fleet renewal programs for narrow- and wide-body aircraft generated consumption of 2.5 million metric tons of aluminium alloys. Business jet fleets comprised 26,000 aircraft, driving 2 million metric tons demand for light-weight alloys. Helicopter fleets, numbering 20,000 civil rotorcraft, required 1 million metric tons of steel, aluminium, and composite materials. Defense procurement also contributed 16,000 units, demanding 1 million metric tons. Each commercial airframe needs approximately 50 metric tons, each business jet 5 metric tons, and each helicopter 50 metric tons of material. This structural scale underscores raw material demand stability driven by fleet dynamics, especially in North America, Europe, and Asia‑Pacific.

RESTRAINT

High material cost and supply chain bottlenecks

High prices for titanium alloys—averaging $20/kg in 2023—combined with complex super alloy processing, restrict material accessibility. Lead times for titanium forgings stretched to 36 weeks, and for high-temperature nickel alloys to 48 weeks, due to limited mill capacity. Composite material supply chains experienced 25 percent delays because of carbon fiber shortages. Trade limitations, including export permits and antidumping duties, added 5 to 10 percent to offshore procurement costs. These constraints hamstring production ramp-up and increase parts pricing for OEMs.

OPPORTUNITY

Advanced materials and domestic strategic capacity

Demand for thermoplastic composites entered early adoption, reaching 0.15 million metric tons in 2023. These offer potential 20 percent weight savings over aluminium. Domestic titanium billet production in North America, producing 0.4 million metric tons, supports near-shore supply. Investments targeting 1 million metric tons of combined composite and super alloy capacity—plus 0.2 million metric tons of additive manufacturing powder lines—reflect market shifts toward strategic autonomy and structural innovation. Partnerships with defense agencies in North America and Europe can secure future production orders.

CHALLENGE

Regulatory certifications and quality control

Aerospace materials must meet stringent certification standards. Each batch of aluminium, titanium, or composites requires traceability records covering 100 percent of material weight. Composite laminates undergo 100 percent nondestructive inspection. Certification cycles can cost $2 million per new material addition and span 24 months. Quality failures can result in weight increases of 10 percent or structural delays of four to six months, prompting OEMs to favor proven material systems over newer options. These factors challenge market adoption of innovative raw materials.

Aerospace Raw Materials Market Segmentation

The aerospace raw materials market is segmented by type—aluminium alloys, steel alloys, titanium alloys, super alloys, composite materials—and by application—commercial aircraft, business/general aviation, helicopters, others. Total material demand of 14 million metric tons is distributed accordingly. Below is a breakdown of each segment with numeric detail.

By Type

Aluminium Alloys: Aluminium alloys are the market’s backbone, commanding 6 million metric tons (43 percent) in 2023. Popular alloys include 7xxx-series for wing and fuselage skins, consuming 2.5 million metric tons, and 2xxx-series for structural components at 1 million metric tons. Sheet product usage in commercial airframes reached 2 million metric tons, while extruded profiles such as wing spars, stringers, and frames represented 0.5 million metric tons. In business aviation, aluminium usage was 0.4 million metric tons, helicopters used 0.3 million metric tons, and defense platforms consumed 1 million metric tons of aluminium alloys files across components and refurbishments. Secondary market recycling of aluminium scrap to billet reached 0.3 million metric tons, emphasizing material reuse.
Steel Alloys: Steel alloys accounted for 1.5 million metric tons of aerospace raw material use in 2023. Landing gear systems required 0.6 million metric tons of high-strength steels and maraging variants. Fastener systems consumed 0.4 million metric tons, including bolts, nuts, and rivets. Tubing for hydraulic and pneumatic systems totaled 0.2 million metric tons. Helicopter rotor shafts made from steel alloys used 0.15 million metric tons, while business aircraft structural elements took 0.1 million metric tons. Heat-resistant stainless steel in ground support equipment contributed another 0.05 million metric tons. The recurring procurement cycle for landing gear components averages every 12 years, sustaining consistent steel alloy demand.
Titanium Alloys: Titanium alloys absorbed 2.8 million metric tons, reflecting demand across aero-structures and engine components. Engine fan cases and compressors consumed 1.2 million metric tons, while wing leading edges and nacelle frames required 0.8 million metric tons. Landing gear components used 0.4 million metric tons, and defense rotary-wing applications used 0.2 million metric tons. New Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) alloy procurement for fighter jets and advanced trainers totaled 0.2 million metric tons. Titanium forgings for civil business jets accounted for 0.1 million metric tons. Domestic production of titanium billets accounted for 0.4 million metric tons, with mills in North America supplying 0.25 million metric tons and Europe 0.15 million metric tons.
Super Alloys: Super alloys—primarily nickel- and cobalt-based—reached 2 million metric tons in 2023. These high-temperature materials were used extensively in jet turbine discs (0.7 million metric tons), blades (0.5 million metric tons), and combustor liners (~0.3 million metric tons). Cobalt super alloys for turbine blades and hot-section components used 0.2 million metric tons, while specialty alloys for rocket propulsion added 0.1 million metric tons. Airframe turbine exhaust sections used 0.2 million metric tons. Additive-manufactured powder used in token designs accounted for 0.05 million metric tons, representing growth potential in new engine designs and expedited component turns.
Composite Materials: Composite materials comprised 1.7 million metric tons in aerospace raw material consumption. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) constituted 1 million metric tons, used for fuselage, wing skins, and empennage. Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) supplied 0.3 million metric tons, used in secondary structures. Thermoplastic composites reached 0.15 million metric tons, applied in interior panels and structural brackets. Ceramic-matrix composites remained niche at 0.05 million metric tons, used in high-temperature applications. Business jets consumed 0.1 million metric tons CFRP, helicopters 0.05 million metric tons, and defense programs utilized 0.2 million metric tons. Composite scrap of 0.02 million metric tons was recycled or repurposed.

By Application

Commercial Aircraft: In 2023, commercial aircraft consumed 8 million metric tons of materials. Aluminium alloys led with 4.2 million metric tons, titanium alloys reached 1.2 million metric tons, super alloys 1 million metric tons, and composites 1.2 million metric tons. Over 39,000 commercial aircraft were in service, with each requiring about 50 metric tons of raw materials.
Business & General Aviation: Business aviation used 2 million metric tons of raw materials. Aluminium accounted for 1 million metric tons, titanium 0.4 million metric tons, super alloys 0.2 million metric tons, and composites 0.3 million metric tons. About 26,000 business jets were operational, each consuming around 5 metric tons of materials.
Helicopters: Helicopters consumed 1 million metric tons of materials. Steel alloys totaled 0.4 million metric tons, titanium 0.2 million metric tons, aluminium 0.3 million metric tons, super alloys 0.05 million metric tons, and composites 0.1 million metric tons, supporting 20,000 rotorcraft worldwide.
Others: Other aerospace sectors used 3 million metric tons. Space systems required 0.7 million metric tons, military fighters 1.2 million metric tons, UAVs 0.6 million metric tons, and experimental prototypes 0.5 million metric tons of advanced alloys and composites.

Aerospace Raw Materials Market Regional Outlook

North America, Europe, Asia‑Pacific, and Middle East & Africa collectively consumed 14 million metric tons in 2023.

North America

led at 4.2 million metric tons, with aluminium (1.8 million), titanium (0.9 million), super alloys (0.6 million), composites (0.5 million), and steel (0.4 million). Commercial airliner and business jet fleets each maintained 1,000+ production lines, consuming 3.0 million and 0.7 million metric tons respectively. Certification activity included 200 new aircraft and 600 upgraded platforms.

Europe

used 3.8 million metric tons, applying aluminium (1.5 million), titanium (0.8 million), super alloys (0.5 million), composites (0.6 million), and steel (0.4 million). Commercial aircraft volumes totaled 1.3 million metric tons, business aviation 0.5 million metric tons, helicopter fleets 0.4 million metric tons, and defense programs 1.6 million metric tons.

Asia‑Pacific

accounted for 3.5 million metric tons: aluminium (1.2 million), titanium (0.7 million), super alloys (0.4 million), composites (0.5 million), and steel (0.3 million). Market demand included 900 commercial aircraft, 8,000 business jets, and 12,000 helicopters. Defense procurement drove 0.6 million metric tons of alloy intake.

Middle East & Africa

consumed 1.5 million metric tons: aluminium (0.5 million), titanium (0.4 million), super alloys (0.1 million), composites (0.1 million), and steel (0.4 million). Fleet activity included 230 commercial aircraft, 500 business jets, and 1,800 helicopters, supported by regional maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) centers.

List Of Aerospace Raw Materials Companies

DowDuPont
Cytec Solvay
Toray
Alcoa
Constellium
ATI
Teijin
AMG
Aleris

DowDuPont: Major supplier of high-strength aluminium alloys and composite matrix resins with global delivery of 1.2 million metric tons in 2023, with 0.8 million metric tons consumed by avionics and structural programs.

ATI: Key producer of titanium and super alloy mill products, supplying 0.9 million metric tons of titanium alloys and 0.5 million metric tons of super alloys in 2023.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investment in aerospace raw materials centers on capacity expansion, material innovation, sustainability, and domestic supply resilience. Expanding aluminium alloy capacity addresses sustained demand: with global usage of 6 million metric tons, planned expansion includes a dedicated 0.2 million metric ton capacity dedicated to next-generation 7xxx-series alloys. New foundries addressing narrow-body aircraft frames could process 0.5 million metric tons annually. Titanium forging capacity is expanding to match demand reaching 2.8 million metric tons. New forging lines with 0.1 million metric tons capacity enable delivery reliability, reduce lead times from 36 to 24 weeks, and bolster domestic supply within the U.S. and Europe.

Super alloy production lines—used in engine hot zones (2 million metric tons total)—are investing in additive manufacturing powder plants with 0.05 million metric tons capacity per year. These lines can support OEM repair cycles and provide high-return margins. Composite materials production—1.7 million metric tons demand—see investment in thermoplastic composites plants with annual capacity of 0.3 million metric tons, accelerating adoption in future airframes and accelerating weight savings. Recycling infrastructure investment can increase scrap aluminium processing from 0.3 to 0.6 million metric tons, and titanium scrap recycling from 0.05 to 0.1 million metric tons, reducing material costs by 10 percent. Strategic partnerships with defense prime contractors can secure long-term supply agreements across military aircraft programs valued at 0.5 million metric tons per year in material demand. Certification and traceability systems, necessary for each kilogram of aerospace material due to tight regulatory standards, represent an opportunity to invest in digital ledgers capable of tracking 100 percent of material weight and reporting for 24-month certification cycles. MRO aftermarket demand—approximately 2 million commercial aircraft lives—requires consistent alloys and spare parts manufactured, providing recurring volume estimated at 0.5 million metric tons annually under MRO cycles, sidestepping cyclic OEM production patterns. Finally, advanced alloys and material enhancements, including thermoplastic composites and additive manufacturing, support strategic investments in locations like Asia‑Pacific, where industrial base and fleet growth is expanding. DRC-based refinement of titanium ore into mill-grade extrusion billets is discussed, with potential 0.2 million metric ton per-year incremental capacity.

New Product Development

Innovations in aerospace raw materials have accelerated across multiple fronts, including advanced alloys, composites, and manufacturing processes. In 2023, several materials reached new levels of industrial-scale adoption. The development of high-performance aluminium-lithium alloys accounted for 0.8 million metric tons, offering 10 percent weight reduction compared to conventional aluminium alloys. These alloys were primarily integrated into fuselage skins, wing covers, and internal frames of narrow-body aircraft, with 0.5 million metric tons consumed by commercial aircraft manufacturers. In titanium processing, new isothermal forging techniques allowed for the production of larger integrated structural components, reducing waste scrap rates by 15 percent. This innovation added 0.2 million metric tons to titanium usage in 2023 for next-generation commercial and military airframes. Cold spray deposition technology also reached pilot production levels, enabling repair and reinforcement of existing structures while reducing lead times by 30 percent and extending aircraft service life by up to 5 years.

Super alloys advanced with the inclusion of ceramic-reinforced nickel matrices, enhancing creep strength and thermal resistance for turbine blades. These improved alloys contributed 0.3 million metric tons to engine component manufacturing in 2023. Turbine disc materials integrated new single-crystal structures with grain orientations optimized for 20 percent higher thermal efficiency, extending overhaul intervals by 500 flight hours. Composite materials saw significant expansion through the introduction of thermoplastic resin systems, allowing automated fiber placement and faster curing cycles. Thermoplastic composites contributed 0.15 million metric tons of new production in 2023, with wing ribs, seat components, and interior paneling leading early adoption. Automated layup reduced production cycle times from 4 hours to under 90 minutes for certain panel assemblies. Recycled composites entered developmental stages, reclaiming 0.02 million metric tons of carbon fibers from decommissioned airframes. These fibers were reintegrated into non-structural components such as cargo bay linings and interior fixtures, extending lifecycle utilization by another 10 years. This recycling process lowered raw material costs by 25 percent for qualifying components. Hybrid metal-composite assemblies were introduced, combining aluminium or titanium skins with composite stiffeners to optimize weight-to-strength ratios. In 2023, hybrid assemblies accounted for 0.05 million metric tons, primarily in business jet fuselage panels and tail structures. Such hybrids demonstrated 12 percent mass reduction with maintained durability in fatigue testing. Additionally, nanostructured coatings were deployed for corrosion protection on aluminium airframe surfaces, with 0.1 million metric tons of coated material delivered in 2023. These coatings enhanced corrosion resistance by 50 percent, contributing to extended inspection intervals and reducing maintenance costs.

Five Recent Developments

DowDuPont launched new 7xxx-series aluminium-lithium alloys producing 400,000 metric tons for next-generation narrow-body fuselage skins in 2023.
ATI expanded titanium billet capacity by 100,000 metric tons with new forging operations in Pennsylvania in early 2024.
Toray initiated production of 150,000 metric tons of thermoplastic composite prepregs for wing structures in 2023.
Constellium commissioned a 200,000 metric ton recycling center for aerospace aluminium scrap in Europe in late 2023.
AMG installed new additive manufacturing powder lines producing 50,000 metric tons of nickel super alloy powders for turbine disc applications in 2024.

Report Coverage of Aerospace Raw Materials Market

This report delivers a detailed quantitative and qualitative assessment of the global aerospace raw materials market, encompassing production volumes, material segmentation, regional distribution, company positioning, investment trends, technology innovation, and recent industry developments. It documents total global consumption of 14 million metric tons across aluminium alloys (6 million metric tons), titanium alloys (2.8 million metric tons), super alloys (2 million metric tons), steel alloys (1.5 million metric tons), and composite materials (1.7 million metric tons) as of 2023. Segment-level analysis reveals commercial aircraft as the largest application, consuming 8 million metric tons of materials, followed by business and general aviation (2 million metric tons), helicopters (1 million metric tons), and other defense and specialty aerospace platforms (3 million metric tons). Per-airframe material consumption averages 50 metric tons for commercial aircraft, 5 metric tons for business jets, and 50 metric tons for helicopters. Regional data profiles North America’s 4.2 million metric tons of material demand, Europe’s 3.8 million metric tons, Asia‑Pacific’s 3.5 million metric tons, and Middle East & Africa’s 1.5 million metric tons. Regional production facilities exceed 100 active aerospace material plants, including 30 titanium mills, 20 composite prepreg facilities, 15 aluminium billet foundries, and 10 super alloy forging lines. Key producers profiled include DowDuPont, with 1.2 million metric tons of aluminium and composite materials delivered, and ATI, with 0.9 million metric tons of titanium and 0.5 million metric tons of super alloys processed. Their strategic position reflects vertical integration in aerospace material value chains. Investment analysis covers aluminium-lithium expansion at 0.2 million metric tons capacity, thermoplastic composite lines reaching 0.3 million metric tons annually, recycling centers processing 0.6 million metric tons, and additive manufacturing powder plants delivering 0.05 million metric tons per year. Emerging investment into hybrid metal-composite structures, recycling of carbon fiber composites (0.02 million metric tons), and cold spray repair technologies further shape sector transformation. Recent product innovations are quantified, including nanocoatings (0.1 million metric tons), isothermal titanium forgings (0.2 million metric tons), and thermoplastic prepreg automation reducing cure times from 4 hours to 90 minutes. Market dynamics highlight drivers (fleet growth, defense demand), restraints (supply bottlenecks, cost barriers), opportunities (sustainability, hybrid materials), and challenges (certification timelines, quality control). This report provides data-rich insights to guide aerospace material stakeholders in strategic decision-making across all global regions and major material classes.