Composite Cylinder Market Research, 2030
The global composite cylinder market size was valued at $828.2 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $1.5 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2025 to 2030.
Introduction
A composite cylinder is a high-pressure vessel engineered for gas storage, built from advanced composite materials such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fibers, or a blend of these, and is reinforced with a thermosetting resin matrix. Composite cylinders are much lighter, corrosion-resistant, and offer higher strength-to-weight ratios. The composite structure generally consists of a metal or polymer liner wrapped with multiple layers of composite fibers impregnated with resin, which provides durability and gas-tight integrity. These cylinders are designed to handle demanding conditions such as high pressure, impact, and exposure to chemicals, making them a superior alternative to traditional metallic cylinders. Their lightweight design not only makes handling easier but also contributes to efficiency in transportation and reduces overall operating costs.
Composite cylinders offer significant advantages over traditional cylinders, thus driving their growing adoption. They are up to 70% lighter than steel cylinders, making them easier to transport, carry, and install. This enhances convenience for end users and improves operational efficiency in industries where mobility is essential. Second, they are corrosion-resistant since the composite shell does not rust or deteriorate when exposed to water, chemicals, or outdoor environments. Third, composite cylinders have a transparent design option, allowing users to visually inspect the gas level inside, an advantage over opaque steel cylinders. The composite cylinder industry is witnessing rapid growth driven by rising demand for lightweight, safe, and durable alternatives to traditional steel cylinders.
One of the largest applications of composite cylinders is in the energy and gas industry, where they are used for storing and transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen, and other industrial gases. In households, composite LPG cylinders are increasingly replacing steel cylinders because of their lightweight, corrosion resistance, and ease of handling. They are particularly popular in regions with humid or coastal environments, where steel cylinders are prone to rusting. In the commercial sector, restaurants, hotels, and catering services prefer composite LPG cylinders because they improve operational efficiency and reduce manual handling risks.
Key Takeaways
- The composite cylinder market study covers 20 countries. The research includes a segment analysis of each country in terms of value for the projected period.
- The study integrated high-quality data, professional opinions and analysis, and critical independent perspectives. The research approach is intended to provide a balanced view of global composite cylinder markets and to assist stakeholders in making educated decisions in order to achieve their most ambitious growth objectives.
- Over 3,700 product literature, annual reports, industry statements, and other comparable materials from major industry participants were reviewed to gain a better understanding of the composite cylinder market share.
- The key players in the composite cylinder market are Hexagon Ragasco AS, NPROXX, Amtrol-Alfa, Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, EVAS, FABER INDUSTRIE SPA, Luxfer Gas Cylinders, Quantum Fuel Systems, Sinoma International Engineering Co., Ltd., and AMS Composite Cylinders, and others.
Market Dynamics
Adoption in automotive and aerospace is expected to drive the growth of the composite cylinder market. The composite cylinder market forecast growth, driven by rising demand across energy, automotive, and household applications. The adoption of composite cylinders in the automotive and aerospace industries is accelerating due to the growing demand for lightweight, durable, and high-performance storage solutions. In the automotive sector, these cylinders are widely used in CNG-powered vehicles, where reducing weight is crucial for improving fuel efficiency and performance. Unlike heavy steel cylinders, composites provide a superior strength-to-weight ratio, enabling better fuel economy, extended driving ranges, and more efficient vehicle designs. A key milestone came in January 2024, when Time Technoplast secured PESO approval to manufacture high-pressure Type IV composite cylinders for hydrogen storage—marking a significant government-backed step toward advancing hydrogen-powered automotive applications.
However, recycling and disposal challenges are expected to hamper the growth of the composite cylinder market. One of the key restraints in the large-scale adoption of composite cylinders is the difficulty in recycling and disposal. Unlike steel cylinders, which can be easily melted and repurposed, composite cylinders are made from layered materials such as carbon or glass fibers combined with polymer resins. This complex structure makes separation and processing at the end of their lifecycle highly challenging. Recycling such materials requires specialized thermal, chemical, or mechanical techniques, which are expensive and not widely accessible. As noted by Circularise (2025), global recycling capacity for composite waste remains below 100,000 tons, whereas Europe alone is expected to generate around 683,000 tons of composite waste annually, thus illustrating the significant gap between waste generation and recycling capability.
Segments Analysis
The composite cylinder market is segmented into cylinder type, material type, tank type, end-use, and region. On the basis of cylinder type the market is categorized into LPG, CNG, hydrogen, and oxygen. On the basis of material type, the market is categorized into aramid fiber composites, HDPE pipe/liner, glass fiber composite, and carbon fiber composites. On the basis of tank type the market is classified into type II, type III, and type IV. On the basis of end-use, the market is categorized into transportation, life support, recreation, and others. On the basis of region the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.
On the basis of cylinder type, the LPG segment dominated the composite cylinder market with half of the market share in 2019. Composite LPG cylinders have been positioned as a next-generation alternative to steel/steel-lined cylinders for residential and small-commercial LPG use because they are lighter, non-corroding, often translucent (allowing visual gas-level checks), and can incorporate features such as RFID and smart valves for tracking and safety. These attributes make them attractive for last-mile distribution, refill-tracking programs, rural deployment and markets where corrosion, theft and handling weight are issues.
On the basis of material type, the glass fiber composites segment dominated the composite cylinder market with more than one third of the market share in 2019. Commercial products where glass fiber is prominent include automotive and transport CNG cylinders, many composite LPG cylinders, and hydrogen cylinders that use a hybrid glass/carbon layup for a balance of cost and performance. Examples of product lines and vendors: Steelhead and Luxfer offer Type III and Type IV CNG/composite cylinders used in vehicles and gas transport; Hexagon Purus and Hexagon Ragasco produce large volumes of glass-reinforced composite cylinders for CNG and other gaseous fuels; and smaller specialty makers supply composite LPG cylinders for consumer and industrial markets. These suppliers typically describe cylinders by “Type” (I to IV) and call out whether the overwrap is glass, carbon, or hybrid glass/carbon.
On the basis of tank type, the Type III segment dominated the composite cylinder market with more than one third of the market share in 2019 Type III composite cylinders are widely used in industries that require high strength-to-weight ratios and reliable performance under demanding conditions. These cylinders feature a metal liner—typically made of aluminum or steel—fully wrapped with carbon fiber or glass fiber composites. The combination provides both durability and reduced weight compared to all-metal cylinders, making them especially attractive for mobility and transport applications. Their robust structure allows them to withstand high internal pressures, which is critical for storing gases such as hydrogen, compressed natural gas (CNG), or specialty industrial gases.
On the basis of end-use, the transportation segment dominated the composite cylinder market with more than one third of the market share in 2019. Composite cylinders are increasingly used in transportation where weight, safety and corrosion resistance matter — primarily for CNG (compressed natural gas) buses and trucks, hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (both onboard storage and transport), and mobile/remote gas distribution (e.g., Mobile Pipeline® for biomethane/hydrogen). Their lightweight construction (carbon- or glass-fiber over a liner) allows higher useful payload or longer range versus steel cylinders. For hydrogen transport and onboard vehicle storage, Luxfer’s G-Stor® Go H2 line is an explicitly marketed lightweight high-pressure hydrogen cylinder family used by vehicle OEMs and integrated storage-system suppliers. For CNG and LPG transport and leisure applications, firms such as Hexagon Ragasco produced lightweight composite LPG cylinders and vehicular CNG cylinders built for repeated refills and rough service.
By region, Asia-Pacific was the highest revenue contributor in the composite cylinder market in 2019. Composite cylinders are increasingly gaining traction across countries in the Asia-Pacific as governments, industries, and consumers shift toward safer, lighter, and more efficient alternatives to conventional steel cylinders. The region’s diverse demand base ranging from household cooking gas to industrial and automotive applications has created strong momentum for adoption. In densely populated nations like India, China, and Indonesia, the rise in urbanization and demand for clean energy has pushed liquid petroleum gas (LPG) distributors to consider composite cylinders as a safer and more user-friendly solution. Their lightweight nature makes them easier to handle, while their resistance to corrosion extends service life in humid and coastal climates commonly found in Southeast Asia.
Competitive Analysis
The major prominent players operating in the composite cylinder market include Hexagon Ragasco AS, NPROXX, Amtrol-Alfa, Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, EVAS, FABER INDUSTRIE SPA, Luxfer Gas Cylinders, Quantum Fuel Systems, Sinoma International Engineering Co., Ltd., and AMS Composite Cylinders, and others.
Recent Key Developments in Composite Cylinder in the Market
- In March 2022, India witnessed significant investment in composite cylinder manufacturing as Time Technoplast secured a massive order from IOCL for 758,814 units of 10-kg composite cylinders to be delivered within a year. This surge in demand prompted a $10 million expansion of its production capacity, highlighting how high procurement volumes were essential to justify the elevated manufacturing costs tied to composite materials and processes.
- In August 2023, Hexagon Purus launched a new manufacturing facility in Kassel, Germany, for hydrogen Type 4 composite cylinders, with capacity to produce over 40,000 units and potential scalability
- In September 2023, Luxfer announced a $1.35 million (£1 million) facility at Colwick, Nottingham, to produce Type 3 and Type 4 MEGCs (Multiple Element Gas Containers) including G-Stor Hydrosphere and G-Stor Pro Bundle for hydrogen distribution across Europe.
- In May 2024, Luxfer Gas Cylinders received a clean-technology grant from Alberta Innovates Hydrogen Centre to help develop a polymer-lined Type 4, 700-bar hydrogen cylinder designed for easier, faster production.
Key Benefits For Stakeholders
- This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the composite cylinder market analysis from 2019 to 2030 to identify the prevailing composite cylinder market opportunities.
- The market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities.
- Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network.
- In-depth analysis of the composite cylinder market segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities.
- Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market.
- Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players.
- The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global composite cylinder market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies.
Composite Cylinder Market Report Highlights
| Aspects | Details |
 Market Size By 2030 | USD 1.5 billion |
 Growth Rate | CAGR of 5.7% |
 Forecast period | 2019 - 2030 |
 Report Pages | 472 |
 By Cylinder Type |
|
 By Material Type |
|
 By Tank Type |
|
 By End-Use |
|
 By Region |
|
 Key Market Players | Sinoma International Engineering Co., Ltd., FABER INDUSTRIE SPA, AMS Composite Cylinders, Hexagon Ragasco AS, Amtrol-Alfa, Quantum Fuel Systems LLC, EVAS, Drgerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Luxfer Holdings PLC, NPROXX |
Analyst Review
According to the opinions of various CXOs of leading companies, growing urbanization and household LPG consumption is expected to drive the growth of composite cylinder market. The rapid pace of urbanization across developing and emerging economies has significantly influenced the demand for composite cylinders, particularly in the household LPG segment. As cities expand and populations migrate from rural to urban areas, the need for reliable, safe, and convenient energy sources has risen sharply. LPG has become a preferred fuel for urban households because it is cleaner than traditional fuels such as firewood, kerosene, or coal, and it supports a healthier living environment. Composite cylinders, with their lightweight design and enhanced safety features, are increasingly being adopted by households as a modern alternative to conventional steel cylinders. Urbanization and government incentives particularly the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) played pivotal roles; by November 2024, there were approximately 328.3 million (32.83 crore) active domestic LPG consumers, which have nearly doubled since 2016, with consumption reaching 26.2 million metric tons in FY 2023-24 and refill rates rising significantly.
However, higher initial manufacturing and procurement costs are expected to hamper the growth of the composite cylinder market. One of the primary restraints limiting the widespread adoption of composite cylinders is their relatively higher manufacturing and procurement costs compared to conventional steel cylinders. The production of composite cylinders involves advanced materials such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, and specialized resins, which are considerably more expensive than the steel used in traditional cylinders. Additionally, the fabrication process requires precision molding, layering, and testing technologies, which not only increase capital investment but also raise the overall cost of production.
The global composite cylinder market was valued at $828.2 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $1.5 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2025 to 2030.
The major prominent players operating in the composite cylinder market include Hexagon Ragasco AS, NPROXX, Amtrol-Alfa, Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, EVAS, FABER INDUSTRIE SPA, Luxfer Gas Cylinders, Quantum Fuel Systems, Sinoma International Engineering Co., Ltd., and AMS Composite Cylinders, and others.
Asia-Pacific is the largest region for composite cylinder market.
Portland cement is the leading raw material of composite cylinder market.
Rise in use of composite cylinder in the hydrogen economy are the upcoming trends of composite cylinder market.
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