Friction Materials Market Growth Accelerates with Asia Pacific Holding 50% Share and Pads Leading at 43% - Forecast to USD 7.39 Billion by 2031 | DataM Intelligence

Global Friction Materials Market size was worth US$ 5.58 billion in 2023 and is estimated to reach US$ 7.39 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 3.57 % during the forecast period (2024-2031).

The Market Is driven by rising automotive production, increasing demand for commercial and passenger vehicles, and expanding use of friction products in industrial machinery.

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U.S Industry Development

✅ The U.S. is the largest market in North America for friction materials, accounting for approximately 64 % of the North American market in 2024.

✅ In the U.S./North American region, the broader friction materials market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 4.5 % or so during the forecast period from 2026 onwards.

✅ Industrial and non-automotive applications (railway, heavy machinery, aerospace) are also contributing to friction materials market growth in the U.S., given advanced manufacturing infrastructure and high safety/quality standards

Japan Industry Deevloment

✅ Japan's friction products & materials market was valued at around USD 4.0 billion in 2022, and projected to reach USD 5.5 billion by 2030.

✅ Japanese companies are notable in the friction materials space (e.g., Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. develops friction materials and brake assemblies).

✅ Key Japanese market trends include: a focus on advanced material technologies (such as sintered-metal friction materials by Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd.) for industrial/automotive/clutch applications.

✅ Japan is also impacted by global shifts: increased EV adoption, regulatory pressure for lower-emissions vehicles, and demand for quieter, lighter, higher-performance friction materials are factors influencing Japanese manufacturers and market growth.

Market segmentation-

➠ By Product

Pads - 43% of the total market

Discs - 15% of the total market

Others - 20% of the total market

The pads segment leads because brake pads are ubiquitous across automotive and aftermarket braking systems, especially as disc brakes proliferate. The linings segment (drum brakes, heavy-duty applications) remains sizable but smaller. Discs and the "others" category absorb more specialized or niche product types.

➠ By Business (Original Equipment vs Aftersales)

Original Equipment (OE) - 60% of the market

Aftersales - 40% of the market

The OE segment gets the bulk of demand in new vehicle builds (brakes, clutches etc.), while aftersales covers replacements, wear parts and service. Given high replacement cycles in many regions, the aftermarket portion is substantial but not majority in many global forecasts.

➠ By Application

Brakes (including pads, linings, discs) - 75% of the market

Clutches - 15% of the market

Industrial Brake & Transmission Systems / Others - 10% of the market

The dominance of brake systems is obvious since friction materials are critical in braking for vehicles. Clutches are smaller but important in automotive and some industrial applications. The residual industrial/other applications pick up the remainder.

➠ By End-User

Automotive - 63% of the market

Railway - 18% of the market

Construction / Others - 19% of the market

Automotive end-use dominates because most friction materials go into cars, commercial vehicles. Railway is the next meaningful segment due to braking systems in trains/metros. Construction and other industrial end-users fill out the remainder.

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Regional insights-

➠ Asia-Pacific (50 % of the global market) -China, Japan, India, South Korea, Indonesia: China leads the world because it is the largest vehicle producer and seller, has massive OEM and aftermarket demand (passenger cars, commercial vehicles, two-wheelers), an extensive railway network, and a huge friction-materials manufacturing base with significant exports and local R&D/upgrading to low-dust and ceramic formulations.

➠ North America (20-26% of the global market) - United States, Mexico, Canada: The United States is top ranked in North America because of a large installed vehicle base, high per-vehicle braking system complexity (heavy trucks, SUVs, EV braking/regenerative system integration), strong OEM R&D and aftermarket spending, and presence of major global friction-product manufacturers and suppliers.

➠ Europe (20-30% of the global market) - Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain: Germany is near the top because of its strong OEM base (premium and commercial vehicle manufacturers), high technical standards for brake performance, and clustered tier-1/tier-2 friction suppliers that push advanced materials (low-noise, low-dust, high-durability).

Emerging players :-

➠ Resonac Corporation
Why: Resonac (formerly part of the Kuraray group) has recently developed NAO (non-asbestos organic) disc brake pads tuned for electric vehicles and is investing in new production capacity (including a second pad plant in India).

➠ Rane Brake Lining Ltd (India) - Estimated market share: ~38% of India OEM friction
Why: Rane is a leading regional (India) friction-materials supplier with a substantial share of the Indian OEM segment (38% in OEM per ratings report). Their strengths are deep OEM relationships in India, capacity for both OE and aftermarket, and steady R&D/manufacturing scale-up all of which position them as an "emerging" global contender from a strong domestic base.

➠ Brakes India (Indian group)
Why: Brakes India has been expanding production and exports, operates multiple foundry and brake manufacturing sites, and is increasing international supplies signaling fast regional growth. Their large domestic revenues and recent sustainability .

➠ Cifarelli S.p.A. (Italy)
Why: Cifarelli is a small specialist manufacturer (public filings show modest turnover €10-12M in recent filings). Small European manufacturers like this often grow by serving niche industrial or motorsport friction needs (custom formulations, sintered/ceramic composites).

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Key Investment:

➠AEQUITA (Europe): Acquired TMD Friction in 2024, a leading friction material supplier, to strengthen market position and expand product portfolio with an investment estimated at over USD 150 million, reflecting ongoing consolidation trends in the industry.

➠Continental AG (Germany): Acquired a Spanish friction material manufacturer in 2023 to enhance their railway segment product offerings, underlining strategic moves to diversify beyond automotive applications with estimated investment around USD 100 million.

➠Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd. (Japan): Leading friction material company investing heavily in R&D with expenditures exceeding USD 150 million annually, focusing on eco-friendly copper-free and ceramic composite brake pads to meet evolving environmental regulations.

➠Tenneco Inc. (U.S.): Launched low-emission brake disc coatings in April 2025, backed by significant investment to comply with Euro 7 and China 7 particulate emission standards; invested strategic capital aimed at expanding market share in electric vehicle friction materials.

Growth Drivers:-

➠Growing global vehicle production, especially in emerging markets like China, India, and Southeast Asia.

➠Expansion of infrastructure projects, particularly railway and industrial sectors requiring reliable braking systems.

➠Stricter safety and environmental regulations pushing demand for high-performance, eco-friendly friction materials.

➠Continuous technological innovation focusing on improved friction performance, durability, noise reduction, and thermal stability.

➠Rising adoption of advanced braking systems and electric/hybrid vehicles needing optimized friction materials for regenerative braking.

➠Increasing demand for lightweight friction materials to improve vehicle fuel efficiency.

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