From sustainable growth to strategic breakthrough
2025 was a year when the composites industry matured and transitioned to sustainable growth. 2026 will strengthen Turkey's goal of becoming a high value-added composites production center aligned with the circular economy.
Kemal DARCAN
Composites Manufacturers Association (KSD)
Chairman of the Board
The year 2025 was a year when the composites industry consolidated its technological maturity and scaled up in commercial applications. Starting with the post-pandemic recovery process, 2025 brought composite materials to the forefront in many sectors with the recovery in supply chains, the acceleration of energy transformation projects, and the increasing need for lightweight materials. The global composite market approached approximately 100 billion USD by 2025. Especially thermoplastic composites became the main driving force for growth in terms of sustainability and production flexibility.
The aviation industry has made composites indispensable in aircraft designs. In 2025, with the increase in commercial aircraft deliveries, the share of thermoplastic composites also rose. These materials stand out particularly with their recyclable structures and repairable properties. In 2026, this trend is expected to strengthen further with the integration of domestic suppliers and international certification processes.
In the renewable energy transformation, wind turbine blades are of strategic importance due to the durability and lightness of composite materials. There is strong growth potential for the wind blade composite market in the 2025–2030 period; however, supply pressure from China and cost differences challenge competitive conditions for manufacturers in Europe and Turkey. For Turkey, this situation brings niche investment opportunities in areas such as blade production, mold technologies, and intermediate material supply.
One of the biggest criticisms composite materials have faced for many years is the difficulty of recycling. During the 2024–2025 period, R&D investments in this area significantly increased. The CIRCLE project led by the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and the “Circular Composites” guides developed by the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) have accelerated the adoption of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) and EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) standards in the industry. In 2026, expectations for recyclable products and sustainable supply chain practices will create a new competitive advantage in the sector.
The year 2025 marked a turning point for the Turkish composites industry, where sectoral balances were reshaped. While the demand for composite materials strengthened with energy, defense, aviation, and infrastructure projects, the external dependence on basic inputs such as fiber and resin continues to create fragility in terms of cost stability. Although innovative technologies and thermoplastic composite applications are developing through university-industry collaborations, a more holistic ecosystem is needed for the expansion of domestic production scale.
The year 2026 stands out as a strategic transformation year for the Turkish composites industry, which will enhance its global competitiveness. In this process, collaboration among government, industry, and academia is of critical importance. Priority steps include strengthening compliance with international standards, developing support mechanisms in certification and accreditation processes, and disseminating circular economy and sustainability practices.
2025 was a year when opportunities for composite materials materialized; innovative applications came to the forefront, and global transformation gained momentum. 2026, in turn, will be a turning point where this potential will be commercialized and scaled. Turkey's goal is to become a composite production center that generates high added value, is aligned with circular economy principles, and serves as a regional export base.
As the Composites Manufacturers Association, our vision is to make Turkey a regional center for high value-added composite production, aligned with circular economy principles. In this direction, we will continue to lead projects that will shape the future of the sector by strengthening cooperation among industry, academia, and government.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.