MARKET RESEARCH BRIEFING · REPORT CODE MC552 Global Opportunity Analysis & Industry Forecast 2022 – 2030
Friction Materials Market Braking the curve: positioning for a US$85.5 Mn opportunity by 2030
US$55.1 Mn
US$85.5 Mn
5.0%
Market value, 2021
Forecast value, 2030
CAGR, 2022–2030
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Rising passenger & commercial vehicle demand is the core volume engine for pads, linings, discs and clutch discs and clutch facings.
• Asia-Pacific holds the predominant share, led by China, India and South Korea’s automotive and aerospace output. • Lightweight, high-duty and copper-free formulations open the next value pool; high material cost is the key restraint. Copyright © Next Move Strategy Consulting
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01 · MARKET LANDSCAPE
Market Size, Growth & Ecosystem A US$55.1 Mn market compounding at 5.0% CAGR to US$85.5 Mn by 2030 Global market size, US$ Mn (2021–2030)
MARKET SHARE
2021 & 2030 reported; interim years at 5.0% CAGR
Asia-Pacific holds the predominant share
55.1
57.9
60.7
63.8
67.0
70.3
73.8
77.5
81.4
through 2030
85.5
+US$30.4 Mn absolute value added, 2021– 2030 (+55%)
~6% vehicle output rise cited for the region, 44.3 Mn → 46.7 '21
'22
'23
'24
'25
'26
'27
'28
'29
Mn units (2020–21, OICA)
'30
Key insights • Steady, defensive growth: 5.0% CAGR tied to vehicle parc and machinery use — replacement demand cushions demand cushions cyclical OE swings. • Broad product scope: lining, pads, blocks and discs across six materials, from sintered metals and ceramics to aramid fibres. • Two revenue channels: original equipment and aftersales — a dual route for B2B suppliers to capture value. • Restraint to watch: high cost and limited availability of advanced friction materials may slow adoption.
Industry ecosystem — from raw material to end user 1 · Materials
2 · Products
Ceramic, sintered
Lining, pads, blocks,
metals, semi-
blocks, discs
metallic, aramid fibres, asbestos
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3 · Channel
Original equipment, equipment, aftersales, others
4 · Application Brakes, clutches, gear gear tooth & transmission systems systems
5 · End user Automotive, railway, construction, marine, aerospace, mining
Source: NMSC Friction Materials Market report
02 · GROWTH DRIVERS & OPPORTUNITIES
Where the Next Demand Comes From Vehicle demand and infrastructure drive volume; lightweight & low-emission formulations drive value
Pads, linings & sintered discs: the core product set
Demand drivers Vehicle demand
Private ownership
Rising passenger & commercial vehicle sales lift pad, disc
Disposable income in India & China and thin US inter-city
and clutch volumes.
inter-city transit boost car ownership.
Infrastructure build-out
Regulatory pull
Construction & industrial machinery use friction parts to
US copper limit <0.5% from Jan 2025; Euro 7 brake PM10
parts to regulate power transmission.
brake PM10 cap of 7 mg/km from Nov 2026.
High-growth segments • Lightweight materials — cut vehicle weight while sustaining high-duty braking.
Regional growth opportunity map Asia-Pacific
Largest share; China, India, S.
North America
Korea urbanisation &
Robotics & aerospace use; US
auto/aerospace output.
US aerospace exports US$80.9
LEADER
MODERATE
US$80.9 Bn (2020).
• EV braking — new JVs target electricvehicle demand (e.g., Anand Mando eMobility, 2021). • Heavy-duty wet friction — high-energy
formulations for mining equipment.
Europe
REG-LED
Rest of World EMERGING
Euro 7 (EU 2024/1257) tightens
Brazil, UAE, Saudi Arabia, S.
tightens brake PM10 to 3
Africa; Brazil’s Fras-le scaling
mg/km from 2035.
scaling via M&A.
• Copper-free pads — compliance-led reformulation across OE and aftermarket. Copyright © Next Move Strategy Consulting
Sources: NMSC; CA DTSC; EU Reg. 2024/1257
03 · COMPETITIVE SCENARIO
Leading Players & Positioning A fragmented field where portfolio moves — JVs, M&A, launches — define leadership Competitive positioning matrix
MARKET POSITIONING
Indicative, based on product focus & channel — not market share
• Japan’s OE scale: Akebono & SEVERE-DUTY OE LEADERS
Industrial
AM SPECIALISTS · INDUSTRIAL
Nisshinbo anchor passenger-car OE
Carlisle CBF
Miba AG
Application breadth
• Severe-duty niche: Miba & Carlisle command wet/sintered friction for off-highway, rail, wind, aerospace.
Hindustan Composites
Automotive
supply.
• Emerging-market consolidators:
Fras-le
Fras-le (Brazil) and Indian players scale via JVs & M&A.
Federal-Mogul Yantai Hi-Pad
Akebono
signals margin strain for pure-play aftermarket makers.
Nisshinbo
ABS Friction*
• AM pressure: exit of ABS Friction
ANAND Group AFTERMARKET VOLUME
AUTOMOTIVE OE SCALE
Channel focus
Aftermarket-led
OE-led
*Ceased operations Nov 2024
Key strategies, 2021–2025 Strategy
Recent moves
Partnership s & JVs
A N A N D × M and o → A nand M and o eM o b ility (Jul 2021) fo r EVs; Fras - le × A S K A uto m o tive JV in Ind ia fo r C V pad s & lining s
M& A
Fras- le b uys Juratek , U K (Feb 2023) & K UO Refaccio nes, M exico (~ US $360 M n, 2024); Rane to acq uire H ind ustan C o m p o sites’ frictio n b usiness (₹370 cr, Jun 2025)
Po rtfo lio reshap ing
C arlisle sells C BF to C entro M o tio n (A ug 2021); N isshinb o d ivests TM D Frictio n to A EQ U ITA (N o v 2023)
Pro d uct launches
C arlisle EPD 468, EPD 824, N 680 fo r m ining (O ct 2021); A keb o no severe- d uty fleet pad s (M ar 2024); D RiV Fero d o co p p er- free C V pad s (2025)
Investors
Strategy teams
Consolidation targets in India & LATAM;
Prioritise copper-free & low-dust
severe-duty niches carry pricing power.
formulations ahead of Euro 7 timelines.
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B2B buyers Dual-source OE & AM supply; vet supplier balance-sheet resilience.
Sources: NMSC; company releases
04 · LET’S CONNECT
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