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Significant changes in the flat glass market are being driven by a number of reasons, including urbanization, sustainability concerns, and technological improvements. This is a succinct summary of the major market trends:
Increasing Construction and Urbanization:
The flat glass market is primarily driven by the worldwide trend of urbanization, as more construction activities necessitate a wider range of glass applications.
The growing need for flat glass is a result of urban development initiatives, which include infrastructure, smart cities, and residential and commercial structures.
Increase in Glass Solutions That Use Less Energy:
Building energy efficiency is receiving more attention, which is driving up demand for energy-efficient flat glass products. Because of its capacity to lower heat transfer and improve overall energy efficiency, low-emissivity (Low-E) glass and other high-performance coatings are becoming more and more well-liked.
Architectural Movements Supporting the Use of Glass:
Glass is favored in modern architecture due to its aesthetic appeal, transparency, and capacity to create open, well-lit areas.
Larger glass surfaces, curtain walls, and glass facades are being used by architects, which is increasing the need for flat glass in contemporary building designs.
The Rise of Smart Glass Technologies
Switchable and electrochromic glass are two examples of smart glass technologies that are becoming more and more popular.
With the use of these technologies, users may dynamically adjust the transparency and heat-absorbing qualities of glass to achieve energy efficiency, privacy, and shading.
Sustainability and Green Building Practices: Purchasing decisions are being influenced by sustainability factors, which is driving the adoption of eco-friendly materials. Sustainable glass products are being developed and used as a result of green building techniques, which are in line with environmental concern in the building industry.
Growing Utilization of Automotive Glass: automobile glazing is one of the main applications for flat glass that the automobile industry uses extensively. Modern flat glass technologies improve car safety, vision, and design. Examples include tempered glass for side and rear windows and laminated glass for windshields.
Innovations in Thin and Lightweight Glass: The creation of thin and lightweight glass solutions is the result of advancements in glass production processes. Electronics, displays, and architectural designs are finding uses for thin glass because it provides increased flexibility without sacrificing strength.
Covered Aspects:
| Report Attribute/Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Market Opportunities | People seek appealing and beautiful infrastructures that offer prospects for progress when their disposable income increases. |
| Market Dynamics | The expansion of the construction and infrastructure sectors will propel the market forward. |
Flat Glass Market Highlights:
Global Flat Glass Market Overview
Flat Glass Market Size was valued at USD 121.56 billion in 2023. The Flat Glass industry is projected to grow from USD 127.20 Billion in 2024 to USD 186.5 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.90% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032). The market will advance due to an increase in construction and infrastructure projects, and demand will be driven by the use of flat glass in energy-efficient building construction are the key market drivers enhancing the Flat Glass market CAGR.
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
Flat Glass Market Trends
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Construction Sector will Drive the Market Growth
Demand has increased as a result of expanding building activity and infrastructure development. Flat glass is used for facades, windows, and roofs. As an architectural feature, it is also used for internal partitions. It offers the building constructions outstanding qualities like as thermal and acoustic insulation. These characteristics drive demand for various flat glass products in the building and construction sector. Additionally, the Flat Glass market is likely to be driven by the rising industrialization pushing the installation of this type of glass in commercial buildings for energy saving by optimizing the use of natural light. Thus, this factor is driving the market CAGR.
Flat glass serves various purposes in the building sector, including heat insulation, soundproofing, safety applications, and sun protection. Flat glass has recently undergone improvements that enable the substance to self-clean. U.V. radiation from the sun breaks down organic soil. When it rains, the dirt that has been broken down is rinsed off the windows, leaving practically no streaks. Rather than creating droplets as it would on regular glass, the water creates a film that covers the full surface of the glass and picks up the dirt as it runs off. In the event of rain, self-cleaning glass provides better visibility than regular glass.
Saint Gobain introduced their new highly reflective glass – MIRASTAR REFLECT, in June (2022); it has a very low level of light transmission and is opaque with only 0.1% Light Transmission; it also exhibits good humidity resistance and is recommended for mirror wall fixed applications
Figure 1: United States annual residential construction (2017-2021)
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
Flat glass serves various purposes in the building sector, including heat insulation, soundproofing, safety applications, and sun protection. Flat glass has recently undergone improvements that enable the substance to self-clean. U.V. radiation from the sun breaks down organic soil. When it rains, the dirt that has been broken down is rinsed off the windows, leaving practically no streaks. Rather than creating droplets as it would on regular glass, the water creates a film that covers the full surface of the glass and picks up the dirt as it runs off. In the event of rain, self-cleaning glass provides better visibility than regular glass. From 2021, the construction industry is anticipated to develop at one of the fastest rates in the nation, particularly in a few areas of Asia-Pacific. After contracting by 18.7% in 2020, the construction industry is predicted to rise by 13.9% in 2021. Industrial real estate in the Asia-Pacific area had the greatest prospects among commercial assets in 2022, according to PwC; Urban Land Institute, with an index score of 6.99 on a scale of 1-9. The Institution of Civil Engineers predicts that the construction industry will generate USD 15.5 trillion in revenue during the next ten years, with growing nations like China and India and industrialized nations like the United States leading the way. Thus, it is anticipated that this aspect will accelerate flat glass market revenue ly.
AGC Glass Europe S.A., a 100% AGC Group subsidiary, one of the world’s top manufacturers of glass, chemicals and high-tech materials has announced in September (2022) that they will produce a float glass assortment that reduces its carbon footprint drastically to less than 7kg CO2/m2 for clear glass (4mm thickness), by the end of this year.
Cardinal Glass Industries Inc., in July of 2023, has stated about Cardinal CT Company’s Custom Tempering Operations consolidation and expansion into the Western United States. Less than two years ago, Cardinal CT acquired the Dixon California tempering facility and recently finished construction extension according to plan, as well as improved floor layout and installed new equipment here. All these changes have resulted in increased capacity and efficiency, leading Cardinal CT Company to prosper and eventually being promoted since it acquired the former Dixon California tempering facility, thereby increasing productivity.
Flat Glass Market Segment Insights
Flat Glass Product Type Insights
The flat glass market segmentation, based on product type, includes clear float glass, tempered glass, insulated glass, coated glass, annealed glass and laminated glass. The insulated product category led the Flat Glass market with a volume share of more than 44.0% in 2022. Demand from applications including curtain walls, storefronts, above glazing, non-vision areas, and commercial and operable windows is likely to continue to be a major component influencing this Flat Glass market's growth. Manufacturers have been forced to increase their capacity due to the rising demand. For instance, to meet the rising demand for highly specialized goods in the architectural and construction industries, Pilkington IGP showed interest in expanding its production facility in Ostroleka, Poland, in February 2020.
Figure 2: Flat Glass Market, by type, 2022 & 2030 (USD billion)
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
Flat Glass End-use Insights
The flat glass market segmentation, based on end-use, includes building & construction, automotive, consumer goods and solar. Building and construction segment share the highest growth during the forecast period 2022. The three main causes of increased construction work and infrastructure development worldwide are population growth, urbanization, and rising disposable income. Due to its qualities, including acoustic insulation, heat insulation, anti-reflection, and transmission of certain solar wavelengths, this type of glass is widely employed in buildings and construction indoors, in windows, and facades. As a result, the Flat Glass market's expansion may be attributed to the strong demand from the building sector.
Flat Glass Regional Insights
By Region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the World. Asia Pacific Flat Glass market accounted for USD 54.94 billion in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a significant CAGR growth during the study period. In 2021, Asia Pacific led the market and generated more than 45.80% revenue. Throughout the projected period, infrastructure improvements in the Region's growing economies are anticipated to boost Flat Glass market growth. China and Japan are two nations that have begun investing in Southeast Asia, which is also one of the Region's developing marketplaces. Japan provided over USD 230 billion in project funding between 2000 and 2019, while China contributed about USD 155 billion to developing Southeast Asia's infrastructure.
Further, the major countries studied in the market report are The U.S., Canada, Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.
Figure 3: FLAT GLASS MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2023 (%)
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
North America Flat Glass market accounts for the second-largest market share. North America encountered challenges while building projects, particularly in the first half of 2020. But thanks to an increase in residential building activity in the second half of 2020, the market in the United States saw a modest comeback. For instance, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that from 2019 to 2020, the construction of new privately owned dwelling units increased by 6.7% in the Southern U.S. The demand for the product is anticipated to increase in the future due to the likelihood that this trend will last for several more years. Moreover, US Flat Glass market held the largest market share, and the China Flat Glass market was the fastest growing market in the region.
Europe Flat Glass Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2022 to 2030. The need for automotive flat glass is anticipated to rise as vehicle production and sales in the area expand. This will likely increase demand for flat glass in Europe throughout the projection period. Further, the Germany Flat Glass market held the largest market share, and the U.K. Flat Glass market was the fastest-growing market in the European Region.
Flat Glass Key Market Players & Competitive Insights
Major market players are investing a lot of money in R&D to expand their product portfolios, which will spur further market growth for the Flat Glass industry. With significant industry changes, including new product releases, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, increased investments, and collaboration with other organizations, market participants are also undertaking various strategic activities to expand their presence. Flat Glass industry competitors must provide affordable products to grow and remain in a market that is becoming more competitive and growing.
Manufacturing locally to cut operational costs is one of the main business tactics used by the Flat Glass industry to serve customers and increase the market sector. The Flat Glass industry has recently given medicine some of the most important advantages. The Flat Glass market's major players such AGC Inc. (Japan), Sisecam Group (Turkey), Saint-Gobain (France), GUARDIAN GLASS LLC (U.S.), Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd (Japan), Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. Ltd (China), Vitro (Mexico), Taiwan Glass Industry Corporation (Taiwan), Changzhou Almaden Co. Ltd (China), SCHOTT AG (Germany), GSC GLASS LTD (India), and others are working on expanding the market demand by investing in research and development activities.
SiÅŸecam is the world's top producer of chromium compounds and one of the top three manufacturers of soda ash ly. SiÅŸecam is a major player in the mining, energy, chemicals, automotive, flat glass, glassware, glass packaging, glass fiber, mining, and recycling industries. SiÅŸecam has announced an investment in EskiÅŸehir's most recent glass packaging furnace, valued at EUR 84 million. The most recent investment, which has a 155,000-tonne annual capacity, is planned for EskiÅŸehir, where glass packaging manufacturing is currently being done with the help of four furnaces. By the beginning of 2023, it is intended for this most recent furnace to be finished and operating fully.
Based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Guardian Industries is a privately held industrial manufacturer of glass, automotive, and construction materials. The business produces float glass, manufactured glass goods, fiberglass insulation, and construction supplies for use in industrial, domestic, and automotive settings. Guardian Glass will invest in the upgrading and modernization of glass manufacturing lines in the U.K. and Hungary starting in September 2019. The Goole, U.K., float glass production plant will be renovated and upgraded as the current furnace ends its useful life. The nominal melting capacity of the new float glass furnace is expected to be 825 metric tonnes per day, which represents a 20% increase over the capacity of the current furnace.
Key Companies in the Flat Glass market include
- AGC Inc. (Japan)
- Sisecam Group (Turkey)
- Saint-Gobain (France)
- GUARDIAN GLASS LLC (U.S.)
- Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd (Japan)
- Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. Ltd (China)
- Vitro (Mexico)
- Taiwan Glass Industry Corporation (Taiwan)
- Changzhou Almaden Co. Ltd (China)
- SCHOTT AG (Germany)
- GSC GLASS LTD (India)
Flat Glass Industry Developments
September 2022: By the end of 2022, AGC Glass Europe S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGC, a leader in the production of glass, chemicals, and high-tech materials, will produce a line of float glass with a significantly reduced carbon footprint that will emit less than 7 kg of CO2 per m2 for clear glass (4 mm thickness).
June 2022: MIRASTAR REFLECT, a new highly reflecting glass from Saint Gobain, was presented. The product exhibits a high degree of opacity with barely 0.1% Light Transmission and 55% Light Reflection. It performs admirably even in high-humidity settings and is ideal for mirror-fixed wall applications.
February 2023: AGC and Saint-Gobain, worldwide flat glass manufacturers leading in sustainability, announce that they are collaborating on the design of a pilot breakthrough flat glass line that is expected to reduce very significantly its direct CO2 emissions.As part of this R&D project, AGC’s patterned glass production line in Barevka, Czech Republic, will be entirely refurbished into a high performing & state-of-the-art line that targets to be 50% electrified and 50% fired by a combination of oxygen and gas. This is a technical breakthrough compared to current technology used in flat glass furnaces fired by natural gas. It will be the most sustainable flat glass line design contributing to both companies’ paths towards carbon neutrality and to the necessary acceleration of the flat glass industry decarbonization.This development will pave the way to the conversion of industrial flat glass lines in such a way that it can be powered mainly by low carbon electricity, more efficient than any gas solution, with significantly reduced carbon emissions for the customers’ benefit. The new technology is expected to be implemented on the patterned glass line for operational success by the 2nd half of 2024.
In October of 2023, Vitro announced that it had signed another contract with First Solar to deliver advanced glass cover sheets for the solar panels that First Solar is producing in North America. Thus, Vitro will invest approximately USD 180 million to modernize its existing facilities for the new agreement expansion. Additionally, over the next ten years, this expansion is hoped to add about USD 1.3 billion in sales to the initial contract worth $1.2 billion.
August 15th, 2023: AGC Inc. made an announcement on a recent deal with Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation to manufacture clinical medicinal material at the Seattle manufacturing facility of AGC Biologics for Asahi Kasei antibody-based therapeutics.
Flat Glass Market Segmentation
Flat Glass Product Type Outlook
- Clear Float Glass
- Tempered Glass
- Insulated Glass
- Coated Glass
- Annealed Glass and Laminated Glass
Flat Glass End User Outlook
- Building & Construction
- Automotive
- Consumer Goods and Solar
Flat Glass Regional Outlook
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North America
- US
- Canada
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Europe
- Germany
- France
- UK
- Italy
- Spain
- Rest of Europe
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Asia-Pacific
- China
- Japan
- India
- Australia
- South Korea
- Australia
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
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Rest of the World
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Middle East
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Africa
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Latin America
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