21 April 2026
Carbon fibre: the hidden petroleum dependency in advanced materials
Key insights from this briefing
Why is carbon fibre exposed to oil and petrochemical markets?
About 90% of commercial carbon fibre is made from polyacrylonitrile, or PAN, a polymer derived from acrylonitrile in the petrochemical chain. Because the precursor is a major share of production cost, changes in feedstock and energy costs can flow into carbon fibre economics.
Why is carbon fibre a strategic supply-chain material?
Carbon fibre is important in aerospace, EVs, wind energy and hydrogen storage because it combines very high strength with low weight. High-modulus production is concentrated among a small group of suppliers, particularly Japanese manufacturers, creating a specialised supply-chain dependency.
Excerpt from this briefing's Industry Insight
Carbon fibre is often associated with lightweight, low-emission transport, yet its supply chain begins with petroleum. Roughly 90% of commercial carbon fibre uses polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor derived from petrochemicals, and the precursor can represent more than half of finished-fibre production cost. Production itself is energy intensive, but lifecycle weight savings can offset that footprint in aircraft and vehicles. High-modulus supply is also concentrated among a small group of producers, particularly Japanese manufacturers, creating a strategic dependency in aerospace and defence materials.
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