Carbon Fiber Prices Skyrocket; Supplies Short
By Michelle Krebs June 6, 2007In another sign of these fuel-economy sensitive times, USA Today reports today that prices of carbon fiber, used in cars but also in other goods from hockey sticks to jetliners, are shooting up and supplies are tight.
Carbon fiber, a woven synthetic of hard plastic, is in big demand because it is strong but lightweight, which helps fuel economy in cars and airliners.
Always considered expensive and used only on pricier cars, carbon fiber prices have jumped to $20 a pound from only $5 pounds three or four years ago, the paper reports.
Specialty sports carmaker Saleen has been forced to raise the price of its supercar. Car accessory companies have had to seek alternative grades and sources for carbon fiber.
Saleen, of Irvine, California, told USA Today that the cost of the carbon fiber it uses in the body of its $580,000 S7 supercar has more than doubled in the past year, forcing Saleen to raise the 2007 price by $25,000.
Illstreet.com, an Internet company that sells carbon-fiber car hoods to enthusiasts, told the paper its cost has doubled. It was forced to switch to a higher grade of carbon fiber to avoid shortages. And it is taking longer to deliver products using the material.
Manufacturers are increasing production to meet higher demand, especially for aircraft makers that are using more and more carbon fiber to reduce the weight of airplanes.
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