Global Tire Cord Fabric Market Expected to Surpass USD 20 Billion by 2033, Growing at a CAGR of 3.86%

Tire Cord Fabric Product Definition

Tire cord fabrics are specialized textile materials used in the production of tires to provide strength, stability, and reinforcement to the tire structure. These fabrics are typically made from high-strength synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, aramid (e.g., Kevlar), or rayon, which are woven or knitted together to form a strong, durable, and flexible fabric. Tire cord fabrics are strategically placed in the tire’s carcass, sidewalls, and belts during the tire manufacturing process to enhance its structural integrity and performance. They help improve the tire’s resistance to punctures, abrasion, and deformation, while also contributing to its overall stability, durability, and handling characteristics. Tire cord fabrics play a critical role in ensuring the safety, reliability, and longevity of tires used in various applications, including passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, aircraft, and off-road vehicles.

Global Automotive Tire Market Sales

According to Michelin's financial report, global tire sales reached 1,893 million units in 2025, marking a 1.36% year-on-year increase. Within this total, the original equipment (OE) segment accounted for 466 million units, up 2.74%, while the replacement market reached 1,427 million units, growing 0.91%.

By vehicle category, passenger car and light commercial vehicle tires dominated global demand, with sales totaling 1,674 million units, representing 88.44% of the market. Truck tires contributed 219 million units, or 11.56% of total volume.

Regionally, Asia-Pacific (excluding India) remained the largest tire consumption market worldwide, with demand of 622 million units in 2025, accounting for 32.85% of global sales. Europe and North America followed, at 522 million units (27.59%) and 434 million units (22.90%), respectively. The combined markets of South America, India, the Middle East, and Africa accounted for 315 million units, representing 16.66% of global tire consumption.

Source：MICHELIN Annual Report（2025）and DIResearch，2026

Tire Industry Chain Analysis

Tire cord fabric, a key raw material in the upstream of the tire industry chain, is mainly used to enhance the structural strength and durability of tires, and is a crucial factor determining tire performance. The global tire cord fabric market is highly concentrated with high technological barriers. South Korea's Hyosung primarily focuses on high-strength polyester and aramid cord fabrics, covering the high-end passenger car and truck tire markets; Turkey's Kordsa Global is a leading global supplier with a diverse product range, emphasizing innovative fibers and environmentally friendly processes, serving major tire manufacturers worldwide; China's Shenma, as a domestic representative, focuses on the mid-to-high-end passenger car and commercial tire markets, possessing advantages in localized supply and rapid response; and South Korea's Kolon Industries is a technological leader in aramid and high-strength nylon cord fabrics, meeting the needs of specialized high-performance tires. These four companies constitute the core tier of global tire cord fabric supply, and their output, technological level, and supply capacity directly impact the tire industry's performance, cost, and supply chain stability.

Source: Secondary Sources, Expert Interviews and DIResearch, 2026

Tire manufacturing, as a core link in the midstream of the industry chain, plays a crucial role in transforming upstream raw materials (such as tire cord fabric, rubber, and steel wire) into high-performance tires. Its technological level directly determines tire performance, durability, and safety. Top global tire manufacturers include Michelin (France), Bridgestone (Japan), Goodyear (USA), Continental (Germany), and Pirelli (Italy), which dominate in technological research and development, brand value, and global market coverage. Michelin emphasizes energy-saving, low rolling resistance tires and innovation in the high-end passenger and commercial vehicle markets; Bridgestone boasts a comprehensive product line and a global production network, focusing on combining tire performance with sustainable development; Goodyear primarily targets the North American market while also possessing a competitive advantage in the high-performance and replacement markets; Continental performs exceptionally well in the European market, with its technological advantages manifested in smart tires and high-end commercial tires; and Pirelli is renowned for its high-end passenger and racing tires, emphasizing lightweight design and performance optimization. These companies not only differentiate themselves through product innovation but also control raw material supply chains and production capacity through global expansion, thus building a high-barrier, technology-driven market structure in the midstream segment. Their manufacturing capabilities and brand influence directly determine the value concentration and industry structure of the tire industry chain.

Tire Manufacturing Raw Materials Cost

Source：MICHELIN Annual Report（2025）and DIResearch，2026

Downstream in the tire industry chain, the passenger vehicle market is the segment with the largest demand for tires and the broadest technical requirements. Its market performance directly impacts tire manufacturers' product strategies and sales layouts. Top global passenger vehicle manufacturers include Toyota (Japan), Volkswagen Group (Germany), Hyundai Motor Group (South Korea), and General Motors (USA), all of which impose stringent requirements on tire performance, durability, fuel economy, and comfort. Toyota emphasizes reliability and fuel efficiency, promoting the application of low rolling resistance, energy-saving tires; Volkswagen Group focuses on high-performance standards in the European market, demanding high levels of handling and wet grip; Hyundai Motor Group emphasizes a balance between cost and performance during its global expansion, responding quickly to market demands; and General Motors has a wide presence in North America and emerging markets, offering a diverse range of tires to meet different vehicle models and driving conditions. The demands of passenger car manufacturers not only directly drive tire manufacturers' product development but also foster stable procurement relationships and long-term strategic partnerships. This necessitates tire companies to continuously optimize materials, structures, and performance to meet the high standards of the global passenger car market. Therefore, the passenger car market, as the largest application area in the downstream of the tire industry chain, is also a core force driving technological upgrades and market competition.

Global Tire Cord Fabric Market Size and Growth Forecast

According to DIResearch’s in-depth investigation and research, the global tire cord fabric market will reach US$15.534 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach US$20.25 billion in 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.86% (2026-2033). The global tire cord fabric industry exhibits a clear regional distribution: Asia, especially China, is the world's largest production and consumption center due to its complete raw material supply chain and massive tire manufacturing industry; Japan, South Korea, and European countries focus on high-performance, high-value-added, and environmentally friendly products; the United States prioritizes high safety and durability; and developing countries such as India and Brazil are experiencing rapid market growth, primarily meeting the expansion needs of the automotive industry and export demands.

Source: Secondary Sources, Expert Interviews and DIResearch, 2026

Global Tire Cord Fabric Competitive Landscape

In the global tire cord fabric market, Hyosung and Kordsa Global are in the first tier, holding a leading position due to their technological R&D capabilities, global production capacity layout, and close cooperation with major tire OEMs. Kolon Industries is in the second tier, maintaining its competitiveness by relying on regional advantages and production capacity improvement. Shenma, as a regional player in the Chinese and Asian markets, competes by leveraging localized supply and cost advantages, but its technological accumulation and internationalization capabilities are still relatively limited. Overall, industry competition focuses on production capacity, technological innovation, and global supply networks.

Hyosung

Headquarters: South Korea

Hyosung is a large, publicly listed conglomerate in South Korea, with businesses spanning chemicals, industrial fibers, and high-performance materials. Its subsidiary, Hyosung Advanced Materials (HS Hyosung Advanced Materials), is a major global supplier of tire cord fabrics and tire reinforcing fibers, having pioneered the production of nylon tire cord products in South Korea since 1968. This business covers tire cord fabric materials such as nylon, PET, and high-modulus low-shrinkage (HMLS), and has expanded to steel cord and high-performance aramid/blended fiber products, widely supplying passenger car and truck tire manufacturers worldwide. Hyosung holds a particularly strong global competitive advantage in PET tire cords due to its highly stable and excellent adhesion product portfolio, and boasts a production and supply network spanning Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The group's revenue is projected to reach approximately US$4.23 billion in 2025.

Kordsa Global

Headquarters: Turkey

Founded in 1973, Kordsa is a globally renowned supplier of tire additives and composite materials, originally a subsidiary of Turkey's Sabancı Holding. Its main business includes nylon 6.6 and high-performance polyester yarns, cord fabric, and single-end cords, serving primarily the world's top tire manufacturers. Kordsa's product portfolio encompasses tire reinforcement fabrics and high-adhesion treatment technologies, supporting performance enhancements for passenger car, commercial vehicle, and specialty vehicle tires. In recent years, the company has also expanded its business boundaries by applying composite materials technology to the construction and engineering sectors. In 2024, the company's revenue was approximately $684 million.

Kolon Industries

Headquarters: South Korea

Kolon Industries is a major South Korean manufacturer of chemicals and high-performance fibers, with its tire cord fabric business being a key component of its industrial materials segment. Kolon primarily produces high-strength nylon and polyester tire cord fabrics for structural reinforcement in passenger and commercial vehicle tires, while also investing in key processes such as heat treatment to enhance the performance of these fabrics. The company is expanding its tire cord fabric production capacity in Vietnam and other locations to improve its global competitiveness. The group's revenue is projected to reach approximately US$3.42 billion in 2025.

Shenma Industrial

Headquarters: China

Shenma Industrial is a key regional manufacturer of tire cord fabric in China and the Asian market, producing nylon and polyester cord fabrics. As a typical local supplier in industry reports, Shenma Industrial holds a significant position in the supply chains of domestic member companies and tire manufacturers, possessing advantages in production capacity and regional responsiveness. Industry research lists Shenma Industrial, along with other Chinese companies, as one of the world's major tire cord fabric suppliers. In 2024, the group's revenue was approximately US$2,037 million.