The Composites Fabricating Index inches up to 52.1 in August, representing the industry’s ongoing improvement. Source (All Images) | Gardner 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 improved by 0.4 point for an August reading of 52.1, marking three consecutive months of expansion and, from a broader outlook, expansionary activity for six of the last eight months of 2025. Signs continue to point to a strong composites market as all components’ three-month averages improved over month- and year-ago readings. Supplier deliveries and employment led to single-month gains. The Future Business Index mirrors this strong performance with another month of increased optimism, rising to a reading of 65.1.
All six components saw three-month averages improve over the previous month and year with five of six components sitting above a reading of 50.
The GBI Components Scorecard reports the monthly change rate of primary composites market factors contributing to the overall monthly index reading.
Reading the scorecard
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 three-month average rose again in August, improving to 65.1.
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.
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