Spanning across a number of well-known, high-value applications in some of the largest sectors, the advanced materials market is wide and includes various up-and-coming technologies with unique qualities. Rare earth magnets are demanded for their high resilience and strength, while conductive inks are sought after for their versatility and streamlined nature. IDTechEx's impressive portfolio of Advanced Materials & Critical Minerals Research Reports and Subscriptions contains the latest research across diverse materials sectors.
Rare earth magnets and global demand
Rare earth magnets are categorized as permanent magnets consisting of rare earth metal alloys that create their own persistent magnet magnetic field. These are described in IDTechEx's report, "Rare Earth Magnets 2027-2037: Technologies, Supply, Markets, Forecasts", as having high magnetic strength and resistance to demagnetization. Rare earth magnets are therefore the highest performing permanent magnets available and are critical materials for high-value applications within major technology sectors.
Within the energy sector, which makes up 13% of global rare earth permanent magnet demand in 2026, energy generators in wind turbines are one of the most common applications, alongside e-motors in electric vehicles, a sector which makes up a large 33% of market demand. Other sectors with notable demand for rare earth magnets include industrial and aerospace at 16%, with servo motors for industrial robotics being a popular application, and consumer electronics and data centers which is responsible for 20% of global demand. Rare earth magnets are therefore crucial enablers for global technology megatrends, including the green energy transition, AI revolution, and deployment of humanoid robots.
According to IDTechEx's report, the criticality of rare earth magnets stems from a combination of both their significant economic importance to key sectors worldwide and supply shocks that have followed recent global trade wars. In particular, Chinese export controls on rare earth magnets have had a seismic impact on this strategically important market, as China accounts for 92% of global rare earth magnet production and also dominates their upstream supply chain. As a result, the onshoring of alternative supply chains has gathered pace across Europe, other parts of Asia, and especially in the USA, where reduced reliance on Chinese suppliers has become a national security priority.
Conductive ink currents and removing PCBs
Within the advanced materials family on a somewhat smaller scale, conductive inks are playing a large role in the miniaturization and streamlining of devices that require electronic function. The abolishment of the bulky printed circuit board (PCB) is bringing about innovation across sectors including consumer electronics, wearables, photovoltaics, and smart packaging, with silicon solar panels having driven demand for conductive inks over the last decade as the dominant application.
One current trend explored by IDTechEx is the current demand for specialized inks that can offer benefits that target specific applications. IDTechEx states that one of the main goals here is to create inks that are differentiated by a key performance metric such as conductivity or durability, but that can still cater to a wide range of parameters to still be adoptable within established manufacturing processes.
Silver inks have been a dominant choice across the conductive inks market for some time due to their unmatched conductivity, though copper and carbon ink types are also covered by IDTechEx as being other competing options with their own benefits. These have also gained traction as a result of the recent spiking of silver prices. IDTechEx's report, "Conductive Inks Market 2026-2036: Technologies, Applications, Players", covers applications, multiple ink types, including flake-based and particle free, benchmarking, trends, and forecasts.
Across the diverse advanced materials sector, other reports including, "Materials for Electric Vehicle Battery Cells and Packs 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, Forecasts", and "Materials for Humanoid Robots 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts", are examples of the vast array of IDTechEx's research, which also have their place in some of the largest and most prevalent sectors worldwide.
For more information, visit the portfolio of Advanced Materials & Critical Minerals Research Reports and Subscriptions for the latest developments, market insights, and forecasts.
