The global concrete fiber market is expected to grow during the forecast period (2017-2023) due to rapid urbanization and growing construction activities across the globe. Additionally, the concrete fiber market is also driven by the increasing demand for synthetic fibers in end-use industries such as transport infrastructure, building and construction, and mining and tunnel.
Concrete fiber is a composite material used for strengthening the structural integrity and reducing cracks in the material. Concrete fiber is a combination of cement, mortar and contains fibers that are discontinuous in nature but uniformly distributed and randomly oriented. The randomly oriented fibers in the concrete seize the cracks in the structure, thereby, increasing the ductility and strength of concrete structure. Concrete fiber constitutes synthetic fiber, steel fiber, glass fiber, basalt fiber and natural fiber. Fibers of varying length and properties are used to provide integrity and for reinforcement of the concrete, thus avoiding cracks due to plastic and drying shrinkage. Fibers are aligned in a way to provide stability and stiffness to the construction base. They reduce the permeability of concrete thus reducing the bleeding of water. Concrete fiber includes other properties such as compressive strength, elasticity, flexibility, impact resistance, and high tensile strength. Concrete fiber is widely used in exterior and interior parts of construction, mining highways, roads, bridges in the transportation industry and other manufacturing industry.
The global market for concrete fiber is segmented on the basis of type, application, and region. Based on type, the concrete fiber market is categorized into synthetic fiber, steel fiber, glass fiber, basalt fiber and natural fiber. Steel fiber is straight, crimped, twisted or hooked with a diameter range of 0.25mm to 0.76mm and over the years and they have emerged as a potential type segment. Synthetic fiber, expected to witness substantial rise during the forecast period, is made up of kevlar, nylon, and polyester with a diameter range of 0.02mm to 0.38mm. On the other hand, glass fiber is straight with a diameter range of 0.005mm to 0.015mm, while polypropylene fiber is plain, twisted, or fibrillated. Organic or natural fiber is made of wool, asbestos, cotton, bamboo, or rock wool reinforced.
On the basis of application, the global market for concrete fiber can be segmented as road industry, construction, transportation, industrial, and mining. Construction and transportation industry is estimated to project significant growth in the global concrete fiber market during the forecast period. The government schemes and policies are expected to fuel the growth of construction structures such as runway, aircraft parking, and pavements, roads, tunnel lining and slope stabilization, blast resistant structures, thin shell, walls, pipes, and manholes, dams and hydraulic structures.
Based on region, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa (MEA) are the major segments of concrete fiber. North America dominates the global concrete fiber market due to increasing applications in the U.S. Asia-Pacific is one of the leading regional markets for concrete fiber and the market is projected to grow in the forecast years. The growth in the market is led by globalization with increasing disposable incomes. India, Japan, China, and South Korea are the major countries that contribute significantly to the growth of global concrete fiber market.
The major factors posing a hindrance to the global concrete fiber market are capital-intensive R&D, lack of technical knowledge and high operating costs.
The key players in the concrete fiber market include BASF SE, Sika Corporation, Propex Operating Company, LLC., CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V., Bekaert, W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn., Fibercon International Inc., THE EUCLID CHEMICAL COMPANY, ABC Polymer Industries, Ultratech Cement and Nycon Corporation.
Market Segmentation:
By Type
- Synthetic fibers
- Steel fibers
- Glass fibers
- Basalt fibers
- Natural fibers
By Application
- Road industry
- Construction
- Mining
- Industrial
- Transportation
- Others
By Geography
- North America
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
- Europe
- U.K
- France
- Germany
- Rest of Europe
- Asia-Pacific
- China
- Japan
- India
- South Korea
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
- South America
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Chile
- Rest of South America
- Middle East and Africa
- Saudi Arabia
- Egypt
- South Africa
- Nigeria
- Rest of Middle East and Africa
