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Navigating the Skies Ahead: Key Takeaways from The Aerospace Event 2025

In March 2025, Kymera International joined top aerospace and defense leaders at The Aerospace Event—an exclusive conference designed to foster dialogue across the global aerospace ecosystem. From OEMs and material suppliers to analysts and financiers, the event brought together key voices to examine the future of flight amidst geopolitical, technological, and supply chain uncertainties.

Here are the top insights our team brought back:

Geopolitical Pressures Are Reshaping the Industry

Tariffs and trade tensions dominated the conversation. With uncertainty around which tariffs will be implemented and for how long, long-term planning remains a challenge for aerospace manufacturers. Rising costs from trade policy shifts are expected to reverberate throughout the supply chain, impacting production decisions during an already complex acceleration phase.

Defense is Lifting the Market Amid Commercial Headwinds

While commercial aerospace declined 5% in 2024, overall aircraft production rose by 7.5%—thanks to a strong defense sector. OEMs like Boeing and Airbus are optimistic for build rate acceleration in 2025, but the industry will continue to face hurdles, including the burn down of Boeing’s inventory backlog and persistent supply chain disruptions for Airbus.  Despite this, narrowbody aircraft will continue to fuel the industry’s long-term recovery.

Forecasts Are Optimistic—But Near-Term Volatility Persists

While industry sentiment remains positive about long-term growth (fueled by traffic rebounds and strong backlogs), panelists suggested that true supply chain stability may still be 2–4 years away. Build rate recovery is slower than projected, and suppliers are increasingly skeptical of OEM forecasts—intensifying volatility for raw material providers.

Raw Material Supply and MRO Present Opportunity

With 20–25% of critical aerospace minerals at risk for supply interruption, the industry is rethinking sourcing strategies. Amid this, titanium remains a growth material with a projected 7.0% CAGR. Additionally, aircraft retirement rates have slowed, extending fleet age and fueling demand in the MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) segment—where turn-time is the most critical factor.

Looking to the Future: Space and Next-Gen Aircraft

While there appear to be no immediate plans for a next-generation commercial aircraft, market watchers are keeping an eye on Embraer as a possible narrowbody disruptor. Meanwhile, the space sector continues to attract investor interest, offering a strategic diversification path during commercial aerospace turbulence.

Final Thoughts For material suppliers like Kymera, staying ahead of market shifts and supply chain constraints is key. Our commitment to innovation, material availability, and customer support ensures we’re ready to meet the demands of tomorrow’s aerospace landscape—whether in commercial, defense, or emerging space markets.