Prices of composites materials, including glass fiber, carbon fiber, SMC, and UPR declined, except epoxy resin price that saw an increase, in Q2 2025 as compared to Q2 2024. Glass fiber price declined by 5.0%, carbon fiber price down by 6.6%, SMC price decreased by 3.6%, and prices of UPR declined by 2.8% in Q2 2025 vs. Q2 2024. In Q2 2025, composite material prices moved lower as a combination of weak demand and supply-side pressures weighed on the market. The downturn was led by softness in construction and housing, where high interest rates, slower housing starts, and subdued real estate investment. Epoxy resin price increased by 1.6% in Q2 2025 vs. Q2 2024, due to a combination of rising feedstock costs, improved demand from construction and renewable energy sectors, and supply-side constraints like port congestion, especially in Europe. Strong demand in the Asia-Pacific region and the automotive, aerospace, and electronics sectors also contributed to upward price pressure. In terms of metals, Aluminum price declined by 5.5% in Q2 2025 vs. Q2 2024 due to reduced input costs, stable inventories, and a slight market correction from the heightened pricing environment of Q1 2025. Steel price increased by 0.9% in Q2 2025 as compared to Q2 2024. In the forecast period, the prices of composites are expected to follow the same price trend as Q2 2025, as shown in the following figure.
Source: Lucintel
Figure: Year-over-Year (YoY) Price Change for Metals and Composites in Q2 2025 and Q3 2025 (e)
