In 1980 the global consumption of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fibres was 2,000 tons. By 2005 it had grown to approximately 20,820 tons.
The new superplanes from Airbus and Boeing—expected to change the face of global air traffic—have been designed to incorporate more carbon fibre composite materials than ever before. Given that the number of passenger aircraft in service is forecast to double between 2004 and 2023, it is expected that the global demand for PAN-based carbon fibres will increase by over 81% between 2005 and 2010—from 20,820 tons to 37,720 tons.
Increased demand is also coming from manufacturers of industrial performance materials—including pressure vessels, wind generator blades and automotive parts.
The global demand for carbon fibre has outreached supply. As a result, manufacturers of sporting goods made from carbon fibre—including, but not limited to, fishing rods, tennis rackets, golf club shafts, skis and surfboards—are feeling the effects of a shortage of supply. In response, manufacturers are expanding capacity rapidly across the world.

MARKET FOR PASSENGER AIRLINERS: FORECASTS TO 2023
CARBON FIBRE COMPOSITES
DEVELOPMENT OF CARBON FIBRES
CARBON FIBRE MANUFACTURERS AND THEIR EXPANSION PLANS
TORAY INDUSTRIES
TOHO TENAX
MITSUBISHI RAYON
SGL CARBON GROUP
CYTEC INDUSTRIES
HEXCEL
ZOLTEK
THE SUPERPLANES
BOEING DREAMLINER 787
AIRBUS A380
OUTLOOK
List of tables
Table 1: World: aircraft deliveries by type, by volume, 2004-23
Table 2: World: aircraft deliveries by type, by value, 2004-23
Table 3: Consumption of PAN-based carbon fibre, by end use, 2005-10
Table 4: Toray Industries: production capacity for PAN-based carbon fibres, by plant, Jan 2006-Aug
2007
Table 5: Toho Tenax: production capacity for carbon fibres, by plant, Dec 2006 and Apr 2008
Table 6: Mitsubishi Rayon: production capacity of carbon fibres, 2005 and 2006