Established in 1981, the Brazilian Composite Materials Association (ABMACO) represents the entire production chain of composites or fiberglass reinforced polyester (FRP), a material that has over 40,000 applications cataloged worldwide, from water storage tanks to pipes and aircraft and rocket parts.

Presided by Gilmar Lima, General Director of MVC, ABMACO has almost 300 members and holds, together with Institute for Technological Research (IPT), the Composites Technologic Center (CETECOM), the largest of its segment in Latin America.

Brazilian composites sector report a 13% revenue increase in 2010, totaling USD 1.5 billion. In terms of volume, Brazil consumed 213,000 tons, 16.3% more than in the previous year.

The data about 2010 market segment consumption have not been closed yet. As an illustration, in 2009 the construction segment accounted for 41% of the total composites processed in the country. Wind power was in second, with 36% – one of the local manufacturers of blades has processed no less than 30,000 tons of composite materials last year. As for the automakers, especially manufacturers of buses, trucks and agricultural vehicles, their share accounted for 11%.

In terms of revenue, however, the transportation sector ranked first, with 31%, followed by energy (27%) and construction (16%). This is a consequence of the higher value added of parts used in vehicles – bumpers, hoods and roofs, for example – as well as wind blades, in contrast to water reservoirs, tiles and bathtubs, key representatives of composites in building material stores.