Ceramic Armor Market Size, Trends and Growth Analysis by 2027

The global ceramic armor market was valued at approximately US$ 1,911.26 million in 2019 and is anticipated to grow to US$ 3,273.35 million by 2027, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% from 2020 to 2027.

Ceramic armors are increasingly utilized in the production of various military equipment, including helmets, goggles, gloves, and backpacks. A ballistic vest, commonly referred to as a bullet-resistant or bulletproof vest, is a type of body armor designed to absorb the impact from projectiles fired from firearms and shrapnel from explosions, thereby minimizing or preventing penetration to the torso. This type of armor is worn by numerous law enforcement personnel, prison guards, and some civilians in a soft configuration for protection against stabbing attacks, which are typically executed using metallic or para-aramid materials. The hard variant of this armor provides defense against rifle ammunition and is primarily used by tactical police units, soldiers, and special forces. The most prevalent materials used in body armor production include Kevlar, steel, and polyethylene. Kevlar and polyethylene are predominantly used for soft body armor, while hard body armor is constructed from materials such as steel, ceramic, Lexan, or carbon fiber composites, as well as alumina and silicon carbide. Aircraft armor is manufactured using materials like alumina, titanium, steel, boron carbide, silicon carbide, and ceramic matrix composites. For instance, Saint-Gobain provides silicon carbide ceramic tile armor assemblies designed to protect land vehicles and both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The company also collaborates in the design and development of armor panel components for military, law enforcement, and civilian applications. Marine armor systems consist of a combination of power armor and marine helmets, effectively shielding against gunfire, cuts, blunt trauma, and burns. High-density steel, aluminum, titanium, and their alloys are commonly employed as materials for marine armor systems.

The ceramic armor material market is categorized based on material type into segments such as alumina, boron carbide, silicon carbide, ceramic matrix composites, and others. In 2019, the alumina segment was the market leader. Alumina, or aluminum oxide (Al2O3), is derived from bauxite, an ore extracted from the topsoil in various tropical and subtropical regions. It offers an excellent cost-benefit ratio among advanced ceramics, showcasing high refractoriness, a high elastic modulus, and significant hardness at relatively low costs. In armor applications, ceramics are typically supported by metal plates, sometimes with a composite layer in between. Alumina is utilized in lightweight body armor and is recognized as a crucial ceramic fiber material in ballistic protection manufacturing. The ceramic plates incorporated in soft ballistic vests deflect bullets by exerting an equal and opposite force. The affordability of ballistic ceramic materials like alumina makes them suitable for automotive applications. Historically, military vehicles were constructed using armor plate steel, which is now increasingly being substituted with ceramic composites.

Geographically, the ceramic armor market is divided into regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), South America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). North America accounted for the largest market share in 2019, followed by Europe and the Asia Pacific region. The capability of ceramic plates to redistribute the kinetic energy of bullets, thereby slowing them down to prevent penetration, has led to widespread adoption of ceramic armor by the US military. In Mexico, the rising emphasis on domestic security and the shift from plastics to more suitable materials are driving the demand for ceramic armor. In the European Union, the automotive armor sector significantly contributes to GDP and provides substantial employment opportunities. Additionally, government initiatives aimed at enhancing military armor suits have been pivotal in propelling market growth in Asia. The influx of foreign direct investments is also fostering economic development in the region, with India, Japan, and China emerging as key markets for ceramic armor in the Asia Pacific.

As of December 2020, countries such as the USA, India, Brazil, Russia, France, Italy, the UK, Spain, and Argentina were among those most affected by confirmed COVID-19 cases and fatalities. According to WHO data from December 2020, there were approximately 68,165,877 confirmed cases and 1,557,385 deaths globally. The pandemic has significantly impacted economies due to lockdowns, travel restrictions, and business closures. The global chemicals and materials sector has faced substantial disruptions in supply chains and manufacturing processes as a result of these restrictions. China, being the world's manufacturing hub and a primary supplier of raw materials for various industries, has seen its production facilities affected, leading to adverse effects on global supply chains, manufacturing timelines, and product sales. Consequently, these factors have negatively influenced the growth of the global ceramic armor market.

Key players in the global ceramic armor market include 3M, BAE Systems Plc., Coorstek, Inc., CeramTec GmbH, Morgan Advanced Materials Plc., Koninklijke Ten Cate BV, Point Blank Enterprises, Inc., Safariland, LLC., Seyntex N.V., and Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA.

The overall size of the global ceramic armor market has been determined through a combination of primary and secondary research methods. The research process began with extensive secondary research utilizing both internal and external sources to gather qualitative and quantitative data related to the market. Additionally, numerous primary interviews were conducted with industry participants and experts to validate the data and gain further analytical insights. Participants in this process included industry professionals such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, as well as external consultants like valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specializing in the ceramic armor market.