Did you know that wind turbine fiberglass is used in renewable energy power generation projects?
Entering 2026, the wind power industry chain is undergoing significant changes-the price surge of wind power fiberglass, a core raw material, continues to escalate, becoming a key focus of industry attention. For wind power project owners, construction companies, and supply chain enterprises, the price increase of fiberglass directly affects project costs, procurement plans, and profit margins. This article will analyze key information from five dimensions: the magnitude of the price increase, the application of fiberglass in wind power projects, the core reasons for the price increase, future trends, and industry impact, helping industry practitioners respond accurately.
First, let's clarify the core information: the price increase of wind power fiberglass in 2026 is already evident, with monthly increases reaching 10%-15%. As of early March, the cumulative price increase of wind power-specific fiberglass products compared to the beginning of 2025 exceeded 45%, with high-end wind power yarn approaching a 70% increase. This is not short-term speculation, but an industry-wide price increase caused by the combined effects of supply and demand, costs, and other factors, and the price increase is still ongoing, with prices expected to double by the end of the year.
Which fiberglass products are actually used in wind power projects? Many industry professionals only know that fiberglass is a core material for wind turbine blades, but they are unclear about its specific types and applications. In fact, the application of fiberglass in wind power projects is concentrated in core components, and different products each have their own specific functions, none of which can be omitted.
The most crucial application scenario is wind turbine blades, accounting for over 90% of the fiberglass used in wind power projects. Core products fall into three categories: First, wind turbine-specific fiberglass yarn, primarily E-fiberglass yarn, with some high-end offshore wind turbine blades using higher-strength S-fiberglass yarn. This is the fundamental material for blade reinforcement, accounting for 21% of blade cost and is one of the categories with the largest price increases, currently 15%-20% higher than at the end of 2025. Second, multi-axial non-crimped fabric (NCF, also known as stitch-woven fabric), available in biaxial, triaxial, and quadriaxial types. Laid and sewn in specific directions, it provides excellent bending and shearing properties for blades, is compatible with vacuum infusion processes, and is key to lightweighting large blades. Current market prices are showing a stable monthly increase of around 12%. Third, chopped strand mat (CSTM), mainly used on the blade surface layer and in detailed areas, serving as auxiliary reinforcement and corrosion protection. Price increases are slightly lower, at 8%-10% per month.
Besides blades, fiberglass fabrics are also used in composite components of wind power projects, such as nacelles and fairings. These are mostly mid-to-low-end fiberglass cloths, and although their usage is less than that of blades, their prices have also increased due to the overall price surge, with monthly increases of approximately 7%-9%. According to industry data, approximately 10,000 tons of fiberglass are needed per GW of wind power capacity. In 2024, my country's wind power industry demand for fiberglass reached 800,000 tons, and it is projected to exceed 1.55 million tons by 2030. This massive demand base is a significant support for price increases.
The core reasons for the price increase are not due to a single factor, but rather the result of the combined effects of supply-demand imbalances, cost pressures, and industry structure. This is also the key to the sustainability of this price increase.
Firstly, there has been an explosive growth in demand, leading to a continuously widening supply-demand gap. On the one hand, the global clean energy transition is accelerating, with wind power installed capacity steadily increasing, onshore wind power expanding continuously, and offshore wind power entering a period of explosive growth, directly driving a surge in demand for wind power-specific fiberglass. On the other hand, fiberglass demand is showing a "multi-point explosion" trend. The rise of AI computing power has driven a surge in demand for high-end electronic fabrics, crowding out some wind power fiberglass production capacity, leading to a tight supply of wind power-specific fiberglass. The delivery cycle for some high-end products has been extended to more than 6 months, making it difficult to acquire goods even with funds.
Secondly, there are rigid constraints on the supply side, making it difficult to release production capacity quickly. The construction and commissioning cycle of fiberglass kilns is as long as 12-18 months, and the expansion cycle for high-end wind power fiberglass is even longer. The new capacity of global leading companies will not be released until 2028, which cannot fill the supply-demand gap in the short term. At the same time, the delivery cycle of key production equipment such as weaving machines is extended, and some production lines are entering a cold repair cycle, further tightening the supply. Coupled with the high industry concentration, with leading companies such as China Jushi, Taishan Fiberglass, and International Composite Materials accounting for about 80% of wind power yarn production capacity, it is easy to form a consensus on price increases, driving prices steadily upward. Thirdly, continued pressure on costs has forced companies to raise prices. The prices of core raw materials for fiberglass production, quartz sand and soda ash, have continued to rise. Coupled with persistently high energy costs such as natural gas and electricity, and increasing environmental protection investments and labor costs year by year, production costs for enterprises have increased significantly. Raising prices has become an inevitable choice to alleviate cost pressures, which is also a major contributing factor to this price increase.
Regarding the price trend of wind power fiberglass in 2026, based on the current industry situation and market forecasts, it can be summarized into three main characteristics: "short-term upward trend, medium-term steady increase, and long-term slowdown." In the short term (1-3 months), the price increase will continue, with monthly increases ranging from 10% to 15%. The supply gap is unlikely to be filled quickly, and prices will continue to rise. In the medium term (3-12 months), if demand from wind power, AI, and other sectors does not reach an inflection point, coupled with the delayed release of new capacity, prices will maintain an upward trend, potentially doubling by the end of the year. In the long term (1-2 years), as new capacity gradually comes online, the supply and demand situation will tend to balance, and the price increase will gradually narrow. However, supported by long-term demand, prices will remain high and will not experience a significant decline.
Finally, the chain reaction of price increases on the wind power industry shows that the degree of impact varies significantly among different stakeholders, requiring precise responses.
For wind power project owners, the direct pressure of rising project costs is significant. As fiberglass is a core raw material, its price increase will directly push up the cost of components such as blades and nacelle covers, leading to a 3%-5% increase in total investment for wind power projects. This is especially true for small and medium-sized projects, where profit margins will be further squeezed. They need to optimize their procurement plans, lock in long-term supply prices, and reduce the risk of cost fluctuations. For fiberglass manufacturers, this is undoubtedly a major boon, as the price increase directly translates into revenue and profit. Leading companies with production capacity advantages and technological barriers will fully benefit from the price hike, and their market share is expected to further increase, accelerating industry consolidation.
For midstream companies in the wind power industry chain (blade manufacturers and turbine manufacturers), cost pressures will gradually be passed on. Some companies may pass on costs by raising product prices, thereby affecting the stabilization and recovery of wind turbine prices. Industry differentiation will intensify, and companies with technological advantages and strong bargaining power will be better able to withstand the impact of price increases.
