Strength Members Market Size, Share and Trends 2026 to 2035

Revenue, 2025

USD 1.35 Bn

Forecast Year, 2035

USD 3.18 Bn

CAGR, 2026 - 2035

8.96%

Report Coverage

Global

What is the Strength Members Market Size?

The global strength members market size was calculated at USD 1.35 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 1.47 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 3.18 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 8.96% from 2026 to 2035.The wide preference for central strength members in fiber optic cables, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, and galvanized or phosphating steel wires is driven by 5G, high-speed connectivity, durability, and resource efficiency.

Market Highlights

• North America accounted for the largest market share in 2025.
• Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.
• By product type, the fiber-reinforced plastic strength members segment dominated the market in 2025.
• By product type, the steel strength members segment in the market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.
• By application, the sports and leisure segment dominated the market in 2025.
• By application, the oil and gas segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market in 2025.

Strength Members: High Strength of Plastic Polymers and Steel Alloys

There is a strong competition between the rising plastic polymers and high-performance steel alloys, which further drives the strength members market. Advanced plastics are becoming alternatives to metal in precision and automotive engineering, while steel remains the backbone of infrastructure. The strength members include advanced plastic polymers like polycarbonate, which provide structural rigidity and are used for industrial piping or protective barriers.

Polycarbonate remains a high-strength plastic, which is more significant than traditional steel. The government initiatives boost the production of specialty steel grades for their extensive use in high-tech defense and electric vehicles. The leading players in the strength members market, like ArcelorMittal, have launched a low-carbon and high-strength steel named XCarb S420, which is gaining traction due to offshore renewable energy projects like Hornsea Three.

What is the Role of AI in the Strength Members Market?

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impacting the manufacturing sector by contributing to product design, development, and improvements to existing products. Generative AI offers solutions during the design and technical performance phases for the physical product. AI is crucial in every stage of a product's life cycle, such as design, planning, sourcing, production, delivery, use, maintenance, and end-of-life. It helps in demand forecasting, procurement, contract negotiation, supplier identification, and the adoption of Industry 4.0 for smart factories across the strength members market. AI is also optimizing operations across marketing, logistics, supply chain management, customer relationship, warranty management, and product sorting for recycling.

Strength Members Market Trends

• Biodegradable & Recycled Content: The growth of biodegradable plastics is fueled by regulatory mandates, environmental concerns, and shifting consumer preferences. There is an increased adoption of biodegradable plastics in textiles, agriculture, packaging, and consumer goods. The companies across several industries reduce dependency on petroleum-based plastics and prefer sustainable alternatives.
• Shift to Fiber Reinforced Plastic: In January 2025, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister, urged stakeholders of the fiber-reinforced plastic industry to conduct R&D activities to bring down the cost to atleast 25%. The fiber-reinforced plastic industry and the strength members market have a bright future in countries like India. This type of plastic is used in many industries dealing with renewable energy and infrastructure projects.

Market Scope

Segmental Insights

Product Type Insights

The fiber-reinforced plastic strength members segment dominated the market in 2025, owing to their emergence as pivotal materials in defense applications due to lightweight design, mechanical properties, and adaptability. These materials serve as the backbone of modern telecommunications for cable protection and infrastructure deployment. Glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) is ideally used to provide the structural support in floating wind platforms and solar panels.

The steel strength members segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the strength members market during the forecast period due to their critical role in infrastructure projects, automotive lightweighting, and renewable energy support. Steel serves as the primary material for building construction and modular bridges. There is an increased focus on using steel strength members for retrofitting existing buildings to optimize earthquake resistance.

Application Insights

The sports and leisure segment dominated the market in 2025, owing to the heavy use of plastics in ball games, sports footwear, tennis, water sports, winter sports, children's sports, and leisure goods. These materials undergo thorough research to ensure their testing, durability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. Smaller craft such as surfboards, kayaks, and canoes also depend on the unique properties of plastics to ensure optimized performance.

The oil and gas segment is estimated to grow at the fastest rate in the strength members market during the predicted timeframe due to the rising demand for alternative materials in the oil and gas industry to reduce costs. The biofibre polymer composite pipes are used in the oil and gas sector due to their cost-efficiency, ecofriendliness, and biodegradability. Research suggests that polymer properties are improved using other fillers like silica clay to produce a composite for oil and gas applications.

Regional Insights

How Does North America dominate the Strength Members Market in 2025?

North America dominated the market in 2025, owing to the expansion of broadband and 5G infrastructure, the growth of data centers and cloud platforms, and the integration of industrial automation, Industry 4.0, and smart manufacturing. The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) represents manufacturers of alloys, stainless steel, integrated and electric arc furnace (EAF) steel producers of carbon, leading suppliers, and downstream processors. It has provided the Trump administration with the public policy priorities for the domestic steel industry.

U.S. Strength Members Market Analysis

The heavy investments in expanding the manufacturing capacity, the rising demand for recycled plastics, and advancements in additive manufacturing drive the strength members market in the

U.S. The American steel industry is the potential support system of the manufacturing sector, and is crucial to national security and the U.S. economy. In November 2025, the American steel producer United States Steel Corp (US Steel) made a partnership with Nippon Steel technologies in the U.S. and launched an additional $11 billion investment plan to improve operational efficiency.

What Factors Influence the Fastest Growth of Asia Pacific in the Strength Members Market?

Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period due to 5G deployment in countries like South Korea, China, and India, increasing demand for Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) deployments, and significant investments in construction and urbanization. India is a major manufacturer of various products such as linoleum and plastics, floor coverings, houseware products, plastic films, packaging items, pipes, raw materials, etc., across the expanding strength members market.

The top five importing countries of consumer and houseware products for India are Japan, the USA, Germany, the UK, and France. Moreover, India exports plastic to more than 200 countries in the world, which include Bangladesh, Germany, the USA, the UAE, Nepal, China, Italy, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, etc.

• In November 2025, the Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries introduced the third round of the PLI scheme for specialty steel with a committed investment of ₹43,874 crores. It has estimated the production of 14.3 million tonnes of specialty steel under the PLI scheme and direct employment of 30,760 people. The participated companies in the first two rounds have invested ₹22,973 crore and created 13,284 jobs in employment.

What made Europe reach a Noticeable Position in the Strength Members Market?

Europe is expected to grow at a notable rate in the market, owing to the adoption of advanced materials like high-strength steel and specialty polymers, and regulatory and sustainability mandates. The European Commission has strengthened protection for the EU steel industry by considering rising exports from China and the growing trade barriers in potential markets like the U.S. Plastics Europe announced that European plastics manufacturers planned 8 billion euros of investment in chemical recycling. This initiative aims to achieve a harmonized regulatory framework while transitioning towards a circular economy.

Germany Strength Members Market Analysis

A rapid shift in Germany's green steel industry to hydrogen-based production and the increased demand for high-performance engineering plastics are driving the expansion of the strength members market in the country. In April 2024, Germany launched a €4 billion program to support the sustainable industrial transition, aiming to help industries transition to environmentally sustainable production over 15 years.

What Factors Witness the Rise of the Strength Members Market in Latin America?

Latin America is expected to grow at a significant rate in the market due to massive infrastructure projects in countries like Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina, and industrial modernization.

• In March 2025, Mexico's steel industry committed its investment of US $8.7 billion to boost domestic production over the next five years. The National Strategy for Industrialization and Shared Prosperity is an economic development project that aims to strengthen the country's role in global value chains.

Brazil Strength Members Market Trends

The Brazilian industry is expanding due to regulatory frameworks for bio-based and recyclable plastics, flexible packaging solutions, and large-scale construction projects. In December 2025, the Brazilian Steel Association introduced strengthened trade tariffs for 2026. The Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce, and Services (MDIC) has established the quota-tariff trade defense system, which focuses on addressing domestic industry sustainability and maintaining competitiveness.

Which Driving Forces Influence the Strength Members Market in the MEA?

The Middle East and Africa are expected to grow at a lucrative rate in the market, owing to robust investments in submarine cable expansion, heavy utilization of high-performance engineering plastics and steel-reinforced materials, and expanded 5G networks. In May 2025, the Plastics Recycling Awards Middle East and Africa was launched, which will offer an exclusive platform to identify and honor milestones in plastics recycling across this region. These awards aim to highlight innovation in sustainable plastic packaging, recycling machinery, and individual leadership that boost the circular economy transition.

Saudi Arabia Strength Members Market Analysis

The government is supporting domestic steel supply and providing incentives for local manufacturing in the country. In December 2025, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) expanded the investment footprint of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with the completion of more than 10 investment deals across major MENA markets over the past two years. This achievement will boost regional partnerships and strengthen Vision 2030 goals.

Value Chain Analysis

• Feedstock Procurement

This stage focuses on balancing safety stocks, long-term frame agreements, supply chains, sustainability, circularity, and digital integration.

Key Players: Teijin Limited, DuPont, Kolon Industries, Owens Corning, Jushi Group, Toray Industries, Accenture.

• Waste Management and Recycling

This stage includes on-site source segregation, deconstruction, mechanical separation, carbon fiber recovery, and advanced chemical recycling.

Key Players: Aeron Composite Pvt. Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Veolia Environnement S.A., Vartega Inc., European Metal Recycling (EMR), Sims Limited, Sterlite Technologies, Corning Inc.

• Regulatory Compliance and Safety Monitoring

This stage is accelerated by the International testing standards, audits, process safety management, and occupational safety reform.

Key Players: SGS SA, Intertek Group, Honeywell International, Bureau Veritas, UL Solutions, MiCOM Labs, Nemko, TUV SUD.

Top Companies in the Strength Members Market and their Offerings

• DuPont: Kevlar EXO, fiber optic strength members, oil & gas subsea umbilicals, automotive reinforcements.
• Corning Inc.: Plastic (dielectric/all-dielectric) strength members, steel (conductive) strength members, next-generation AI fiber systems.
• Prysmian Group: FRP, aramid yarn, non-metallic submarine cables, recycled polyethylene (PE), lead-free PVC.
• Sumitomo Electric Industries: Pliable freeform ribbon, specialty tubes & jackets, hard polymer cladding (H-PCF), steel cords for tires.
• Roblon: Glass reinforced plastics, flexible glass strength members, aramid & synthetic alternatives, water-blocking composite glass.

Who are the Major Players in the Global Strength Members Market?

The major players in the strength members market include DuPont, Corning Inc,. Prysmian Group, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Roblon, Hengtong Optic-Electric, Cortland, Multicom, PATEL REMEDIES, Hec-Holland

Segments Covered in the Report

By Product Type

• Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Strength Members
• Steel Strength Members

By Application

• Sports and Leisure
• Oil and Gas
• Construction
• Cranes
• Arboriculture

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa