This Worldwide Carbon Fiber Competitive Analysis and Leadership Study 2010

Publish date: June 2010, Over 109 valuable figures/charts and 29 tables are provided in this 221 pages report

Carbon fiber, once considered to be too costly for successful mass production, is rapidly becoming the material of choice for a variety of commercial applications, from aerospace to renewable energy. In fact, the market for carbon fiber has experienced good growth from 2004-2009, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 7%. As a result of wider acceptance and emerging demand, the carbon fiber industry as a whole is now considered to be highly attractive with above average revenue growth and profit margin potential for those competing in the market.

Not surprisingly, this current environment has attracted considerable attention from the investment community as well as potential customers interested in alternative materials. The world's seven leading carbon fiber producers are also closely monitoring competitive activities in an attempt to navigate the landscape more adeptly and to capture as much share as possible. In virtually every respect, these producers are seeking to establish a tangible competitive advantage in the marketplace through the implementation of innovative strategies and creative product development capabilities.

Lucintel's Leadership Quadrant considers a variety of critical factors – from management effectiveness to product range to market strength to financial strength– and then ranks each firm accordingly on the grid for quick comparison. This report answers following key questions:

• What are the market shares of carbon fiber suppliers in aerospace, industrial and sporting goods market?
• Who are the market leaders in various regions and what are their market shares?
• Which companies are more aligned with market opportunities and which companies have more ability to gain market share?
• What are the key differentiators for 7 major carbon fiber suppliers?
• Which company has the widest product range and how the product mapping looks among various players?
• Which companies will gain market share and who will lose market shares.

The dynamics of the carbon fiber industry extends beyond routine macro-economic elements of supply and demand. It is the relationship between buyer's needs and seller's capabilities as well as the macroeconomic forces at work that affect the market. It is how well and how efficiently the sellers meet the needs of the buyers that determine long-term success.

In Lucintel's newest competitive research study on the world's leading carbon fiber producers-“Worldwide Carbon Fiber Competitive Analysis and Leadership Study 2010” we thoroughly profile the seven companies with detailed competitive assessments.

The detailed analysis of each company offers a critical view into key strategic areas, including:

• Carbon fiber producer target markets
• Key differentiators, strengths, competitors
• Product line overview, positioning, and mapping
• Market position in global carbon fiber business
• Revenue breakdown by market segments and regions
• Global manufacturing operations
• Current and forecasted production capacities
• Innovation and market leadership
• Marketing, sales, and organizational capabilities
• Management commitment and track record
• Financial strength

Collected from a series of primary vendor interviews and secondary sources, Lucintel also provides its own scorecard for determining which of these companies is better aligned with future market opportunities and which has the ability to gain additional market share. Using its proprietary research methodology, Lucintel developed a comparative analysis named the Lucintel Leadership Quadrant which identifies leaders and challengers in the carbon fiber industry. Leadership closely examined and rated each carbon fiber maker on two primary criteria as shown below:

1. Alignment with market opportunity
2. Ability to gain market share

Ability to gain market share was analyzed using following parameters:


• Product portfolio
• Financial strength
• Asset position
• Execution skill
• Customer experience

Alignment with market opportunity was analyzed using following parameters:


• Target growth markets
• New product development
• Corporate and functional strategy
• Presence within the industry

In addition to the Lucintel Leadership Quadrant, this comprehensive research report also offers consumers of carbon fiber as well as the investment community content-rich comparative analyses detailing which producers have the production capacity, service capabilities and vision to deliver fully on its promises.