Composites Fabricating pushes further into expansion
The GBI experiences strong early year momentum amid a flurry of composites market activity.
February brought more growth for the Composites Fabricating Index, now with a reading of 55.1. Source (All Images) | GROW Industrial Intelligence
The Gardner Business Index (GBI) is an indicator of the current state of composites fabricating considering survey responses regarding new orders, production, backlog, employment, exports and supplier deliveries. Over 50 is expansion. Under 50 is contraction.
The Composites Fabricating Index posted another month of growth in February, gaining 2.8 points from the previous month for a final reading of 55.1. This development presents a faster rate of growth than seen in 2025’s expansionary periods. Fueling the surge were month-over-month gains across all components, with the most substantial improvements coming from production and new orders. Production has now risen to 60, a level not seen since March 2022. Along with increased composites fabricating activity, the Future Business Index has also increased, now at a reading of 68.8.
Three-month averages for all components except supplier deliveries improved from January 2026. Exports remain the only component below 50.
Reading the scorecard
The GBI Components Scorecard reports the monthly change rate of primary composites market factors contributing to the overall monthly index reading.
Color indicates where a component value falls relative to 50 for the current month. Green indicates expansion; red indicates contraction.
Shade indicates a value’s distance from 50; the darker the shade, the further from 50.
Direction indicates a value’s change versus the previous time period. Pointing up is always better.
The Future Business Index’s three-month average pushed higher in February, up to 68.8.
The GBI Future Business Index is an indicator of the future state of the composites fabrication market industry respondents regarding their opinion of future business conditions for the next 12 months. Over 50 is expansion and under 50 is contraction.
Find the latest composites fabrication market research and reporting at GardnerIntelligence.com
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