Carbon fiber is a high-value product with exceptional properties (lightweight and high strength). This report reviews the commercial and developing technologies for carbon fiber production. The economics of the PAN-based and pitch-based processes have been estimated for plants located in the United States, Western Europe, Japan and China. In addition, the report discusses the motivations behind recent capacity additions and provides a high-level analysis of the business and strategic considerations as well as the technology availability from the perspective of a company entering or expanding into the carbon fiber market. This analysis is underpinned by a review of end-use sector consumption as well as regional market dynamics.