The Low-Altitude Economy Spurs a New Blue Ocean for Materials

In 2026, with the establishment of the National Low-Altitude Economic Development Department and the intensive implementation of local industrial policies, China's low-altitude economy has entered a fast track of large-scale commercialization. In this industrial revolution reshaping space utilization, advanced composite materials, as a key factor determining aircraft performance and commercial viability, are moving from behind the scenes to the forefront, becoming an important force in shaping the future of three-dimensional transportation.

2026 is a crucial year for the implementation of China's low-altitude economy policies. The National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (NPC & CPPCC) for the first time explicitly positioned it as an "emerging pillar industry" alongside integrated circuits and aerospace, significantly elevating its strategic importance. The "Guidelines for the Construction of the Low-Altitude Economy Standard System (2025 Edition)" issued by ten departments including the State Administration for Market Regulation clarifies the development path for aspects such as materials airworthiness certification. The newly revised "Civil Aviation Law" will come into effect on July 1st, promoting the shift of airspace management from an "approval system" to "refined management." Five departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, have mandated that by 2027, the national low-altitude public airway communication network coverage rate should be no less than 90%, laying a solid "digital foundation" for industrial development. The concentrated implementation of these policies has injected unprecedented certainty into the upstream composite materials industry. According to data from the National Development and Reform Commission, the market size of my country's low-altitude economy reached 505.95 billion yuan in 2023, and is projected to reach 1.5 trillion yuan in 2025, and potentially 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035. In the UAV industry chain, the upstream and midstream segments, including raw materials, components, and complete aircraft manufacturing, account for as much as 70% of the output value. The "Composite Materials Supporting the Low-Altitude Economy" high-level forum, held concurrently with the exhibition, will invite authoritative industry experts, policymakers, and leading companies in the industry chain to deeply interpret policy guidance, analyze market opportunities, and help you accurately grasp this historic opportunity.

Currently, the application of composite materials in the low-altitude economy is accelerating its evolution around three dimensions: material innovation, manufacturing upgrades, and scenario expansion.

01. Material Systems Developing Towards High Performance and Multifunctionality: T800 and T1100 grade high-strength, high-modulus carbon fibers have been domestically produced, becoming core materials for the main load-bearing structures of eVTOL and UAVs. Thermoplastic composites (TPC), due to their recyclability, rapid molding, and impact resistance, are becoming a key direction for future large-scale manufacturing. Simultaneously, composite materials are evolving from single-structure materials to multifunctional ones, such as possessing electromagnetic shielding and stealth capabilities, to adapt to more complex application scenarios. In the "Innovative Product Showcase Area" at the exhibition, you will see the latest application results of cutting-edge materials.

02. Digital and Automated Manufacturing Paving the Way for Mass Production: Facing the impending surge in market demand, composite material manufacturing is accelerating its transformation towards intelligent and digitalization to welcome the "mass production year" of eVTOL. 3D printing, automated fiber/tape laying (AFP/ATL), filament winding, and robotic flexible assembly systems are replacing traditional hand lay-up processes, becoming the industry mainstream. By building "digital twin factories" and completing full-process simulation and optimization in a virtual environment, this "predictive manufacturing" model will significantly shorten the R&D cycle and reduce mass production risks. The exhibition features a special "On-site Demonstration and Training Session," showcasing the latest advancements in digital processes and automated equipment technology for composite material molding. Through live demonstrations, the session will visually demonstrate the crucial role of automation, digitalization, and intelligent technologies in the composite material manufacturing process.

03 Supply and Demand Direct Access: Precise Matching, Connecting Business Opportunities. The "Supply and Demand Matching Meeting" is a major highlight of this exhibition. The organizing committee will invite well-known brand end-users and manufacturers to solicit suppliers on-site. Through demand releases and precise 1-on-1 supply and demand matching, a comprehensive platform integrating efficient connection, exchange, cooperation, and procurement negotiations will be built for the upstream and downstream of the industry chain. Whether you are a material supplier, component manufacturer, or OEM, this will be a place for you to expand your business network and discover partners.

The low-altitude economy is rising at an unprecedented pace in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Guangdong Province has gathered leading enterprises such as DJI Technology, EHang Intelligent, XPeng Aerospace, and GAC Group, relying on the three core cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai to strengthen leadership and support. Shenzhen even promulgated the "Low-Altitude Economy Industry Promotion Regulations" in 2024, becoming the first city in the country to legislate for the low-altitude economy. Shenzhen, as one of the dual engines of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a major national strategic plan, has an influence that extends to the forefront of low-altitude economic development in South China. The 4th Shenzhen International Composites Exhibition is your window into this trillion-dollar market.

Exhibition Highlights at a Glance

"Composite Materials Industry Observation and Trend Release Conference": Focusing on various sub-sectors and end-use applications across the entire composite materials industry chain, the conference invites authoritative industry associations, research institutions, consulting firms, and senior experts to release annual reports. The conference will also feature the global premiere of the "2025 Global Carbon Fiber Composite Materials Market Report." "Composite Materials Supporting the Low-Altitude Economy" Forum: Inviting leading companies across the low-altitude industry chain, the forum will discuss key common technologies and differentiated material needs for low-cost manufacturing of composite materials for low-altitude aircraft, analyzing the problems and challenges facing the industry's rapid development. "Thermoplastic Composite Materials Thematic Conference": Focusing on the latest advancements in thermoplastic composites, the conference will explore the entire chain from key technology breakthroughs to industrialization practices, addressing hot topics such as recycling, efficient molding, aerospace, new energy vehicles, interface modification, welding connections, and the low-altitude economy, promoting the coordinated development of green, low-carbon, and high-performance composite materials. "Advanced Composite Materials Sports Equipment Sharing Session": This session will showcase innovative applications of composite materials in sports equipment, providing comprehensive brand empowerment for suppliers of advanced composite sports equipment. It will explore the advanced composite material secrets of future sports equipment and drive the lightweighting, intelligentization, and technological upgrading of sports equipment manufacturing. "Digitalized Processes and Automated Equipment for Composite Molding" Demonstration and Training: This session will showcase the latest advancements and applications of digitalized processes and automated equipment for composite molding. Through on-site demonstrations, it will intuitively present the key roles of automation, digitalization, and intelligent technologies in the composite material manufacturing process. Supply and Demand Matching Meeting: This meeting will invite well-known brand end-users and manufacturers to solicit suppliers on-site. Through demand releases and precise 1-on-1 supply and demand matching, it will build a comprehensive platform integrating efficient connection, exchange, cooperation, and procurement negotiations for the upstream and downstream of the industry chain. Innovative Product Showcase: This session will delve into innovative products in the global composite materials industry, providing free on-site demonstrations and market promotion opportunities, as well as comprehensive coverage from domestic and international composite materials industry media. More exciting activities, including technical lectures and press conferences, will be introduced soon. Stay tuned! The take-off of the low-altitude economy begins with meticulous calculation of every gram of weight and is achieved through breakthroughs and innovations in every material technology. When aircraft are no longer hampered by their own weight, and when airworthiness certification has a more solid materials foundation, the future vision of three-dimensional transportation will truly be within reach. April 15-17, 2026, Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center. Whether you are a materials supplier, aircraft manufacturer, investment institution, or technology R&D personnel, this will be your platform to understand trends, seize business opportunities, and connect resources.