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The silica gel market is influenced by several market factors that play a crucial role in shaping its dynamics. One of the primary factors affecting this market is the demand from various end-use industries. Silica gel is widely used in industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, food and beverages, and petrochemicals. The growing demand for silica gel in these industries, particularly in emerging economies, drives market growth. For example, in the pharmaceutical industry, silica gel is used as a desiccant to control moisture levels in packaging, thus preserving the quality of drugs and extending their shelf life.
A granular, porous, vitreous form of silicon dioxide largely made from synthetics processing from sodium silicate is called silica gel. It has various non-porous liquid-like microstructures but it is commonly used in dried form and hence the other name is silica xerogel.
Another market factor that affects the silica gel market is technological advancements and innovations. Manufacturers are constantly investing in research and development activities to improve the quality and performance of silica gel products. This includes developing new formulations, enhancing moisture absorption capacity, and exploring novel applications. These technological advancements not only help companies stay competitive but also open up new opportunities in niche markets.
The availability and cost of raw materials also play a significant role in the silica gel market. Silica gel is primarily made from sodium silicate, which is derived from silica sand. Fluctuations in the prices of silica sand and other raw materials can impact production costs and, subsequently, product pricing. Additionally, the availability of raw materials can be affected by factors such as environmental regulations, mining restrictions, and geopolitical tensions, all of which can influence market dynamics.
Market competition is another important factor shaping the silica gel market. The market is highly competitive, with numerous manufacturers vying for market share. Companies compete based on factors such as product quality, price, brand reputation, and distribution network. Additionally, the presence of both established players and new entrants intensifies competition, leading to innovations and price competitiveness in the market.
Regulatory factors also play a crucial role in the silica gel market. Silica gel is subject to various regulations and standards imposed by government agencies and industry bodies. These regulations govern aspects such as product safety, labeling requirements, and environmental compliance. Compliance with these regulations is essential for manufacturers to ensure market acceptance and avoid legal repercussions.
Market trends and consumer preferences also influence the silica gel market. For example, the growing awareness about the importance of moisture control in preserving product quality has led to increased demand for silica gel in various applications. Similarly, the rising popularity of eco-friendly and sustainable products has prompted manufacturers to develop environmentally friendly silica gel alternatives, such as biodegradable desiccants.
Furthermore, macroeconomic factors such as economic growth, inflation, and currency exchange rates can impact the silica gel market. Economic downturns may lead to reduced consumer spending and lower demand for silica gel products, while favorable economic conditions can drive market growth. Similarly, fluctuations in currency exchange rates can affect the competitiveness of silica gel products in international markets.
Covered Aspects:
| Report Attribute/Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Market Size Value In 2023 | USD 0.72 billion |
| Growth Rate | 2.97% (2024-2032) |
Silica Gel Market Highlights:
Global Silica Gel Market Overview
The silica gel market size was valued at USD 0.72 billion in 2023. The silica gel industry is projected to grow from USD 0.74 Billion in 2024 to USD 0.94 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.97% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032).The increasing demand for silica gel in the pharmaceutical industry, coupled with its use in the food and beverage industry for preserving the shelf life of products, are the key market drivers enhancing market growth.
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review
Silica Gel Market Trends
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Increasing use in the food & beverages industry as food additives drive market growth
Market CAGR for silica gel is driven by its increasing use as a food additive in the food & beverages industry. Silica gel can improve the taste and quality of non-alcoholic beverages, liquors, essential oils, and snacks. It also improves the smoothness of beverages, for which additives such as precipitated this gel is widely used in food and beverage products. This gel removes turbid polymers that create haziness or cloudiness in liquids, making the drink finer and more visible. Many food products and supplements contain silica gel, as it helps prevent clumping, allowing for easier packaging, transit, eventual consumption, and flowability. All such advantages are expected to increase demand for silica gel and, thus, drive revenue growth in the market.
Additionally, the rapid industrialization and increase in the use of desiccants in various industries have led to the expansion of the silica gel market. Silica gel is used as pellets in paper envelopes to dry the immediate environment. It is extensively utilized in the shipping and packaging industry, where the transported materials must be kept safe from moisture. Because of its qualities, such as being non-toxic, tasteless, and chemically inert, silica gel is used in the food and beverages industry to increase the shelf life of packaged food by keeping it moisture free. It is also used to absorb the foul odor from refrigerators, automobiles, shoes, lockers, etc. Silica gel column is also a major component used during the chromatographic separation of drugs in the pharmaceutical industry.
Additionally, silica gel makes the skin appear supple and radiant. Pharmaceutical packaging typically utilizes this gel to protect medications from moisture and other contaminants. Silica gel column chromatography is utilized in the pharmaceutical industry to collect or split distinct medication components. Since the gel is utilized in the pharmaceutical industry as glidants, lubricants, viscosity agents, colorants, solvents, preservatives, and others, the rising pharmaceutical industry has augmented medication production and boosted revenue growth of the silica gel market. Since silica gel is only utilized for preservation and packaging to maintain the items moisture-free, the increase in the production of medications is boosting the silica gel market revenue.
Clariant, a focused and inventive specialty chemical firm, has launched a new standard tube/desiccant stopper product designed and sized to meet the needs of the Vietnam market. The new product includes a 25 mm x 132 mm tube and a spiral closure for packaging and protecting effervescent tablets from breakage and moisture damage. The design also works well with chewables and lozenges.
July 2023: Among the recent market novelties have been bio-based silica gels. The latter is seen as a better alternative to the traditional silica gel derived from petroleum due to environmental concerns. Renewable raw materials such as rice husk ash or bamboo are used in the manufacture of these environmentally friendly gels, which reduces the industry's carbon footprint.
Silica Gel Market Segment Insights
Silica Gel Application Insights
The silica gel market segmentation, based on application, includes desiccant, chromatography, food additive, water filtration, and others. The desiccant segment dominated the market, accounting for the major market revenue over the forecast period. A desiccant made of it is frequently used daily to keep things dry by absorbing moisture from the air. It can successfully prevent mold development, food spoilage, and potential condensation that could hinder electronic devices. For desiccants, a single silicon atom is connected with two oxygen atoms to form beads.
Silica Gel Type Insights
The silica gel market segmentation, based on type, includes type A, type B, type C, silica-alumina gel, and others. The type A category generated the most income over the forecast period. It has an increased moisture-absorbing ability at low humidity and fine pore silica gel. A-type gel is utilized as a desiccant for storing food and metal parts. Type A absorbs atmospheric water vapor in the standard humidity range. It has a variety of benefits, including adsorbent, separator, catalyst carrier, and variable-pressure adsorbent.
Silica Gel End-User Insights
The silica gel market segmentation, based on end-user, includes oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and others. The pharmaceuticals category generated the most income over the forecast period. It is frequently used in pharmaceutical packaging to protect medicines from moisture and other impurities. In the pharmaceutical sector, gel column chromatography is used to collect or separate various drug components.
Figure 1: Silica Gel Market by End-User, 2022 & 2032 (USD billion)
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review
Silica Gel Regional Insights
By Region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The North American silica gel market area will dominate this market, owing to its usage as a catalyst in the petrochemical industry and the refining and processing of natural gas, silica gel is in high demand in the petrochemical and oil & gas sectors in the region. Further, the US silica gel market held the largest market share, and the Canada silica gel market was the fastest-growing market in the North America region.
Further, the prominent countries studied in the market report are The U.S., Canada, German, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.
Figure 2: SILICA GEL MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (%) 
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review
Europe silica gel market accounts for the second-largest market share due to the region's established and innovative industrial infrastructure, which is anticipated to increase demand for the gel in the region. Further, the German silica gel market held the largest market share, and the UK silica gel market was the fastest-growing market in the European region.
The Asia-Pacific silica gel market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2032. This is due to rising demand from the packaging industry and the high demand for electronics and food & beverage products in the region. Moreover, China silica gel market held the largest market share, and the Indian silica gel market was the fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.
Silica Gel Key Market Players & Competitive Insights
Leading market players are investing heavily in research and development to expand their product lines, which will help the silica gel market grow even more. Market participants are also undertaking several strategic activities to expand their footprint, with important market developments including new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, higher investments, and collaboration with other organizations. The silica gel industry must offer cost-effective items to expand and survive in a more competitive and rising market climate.
Manufacturing locally to minimize operational costs is one of the key business tactics manufacturers use in the silica gel industry to benefit clients and increase the market sector. Major players in the silica gel market, including Clariant, Solvay, Merck KGaA, China National Bluestar (Group) Co, Ltd., Fuji Silysia Chemical Ltd., SiliCycle Inc., Multisorb, PQ Corporation, and others, are attempting to increase market requirement by investing in research and development operations.
DuPont de Nemours, Inc., commonly known as DuPont, is an American multinational chemical corporation first formed in 1802 by French-American chemist and industrialist Éleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours. The enterprise played a significant role in the development of Delaware and first arose as a major supplier of gunpowder. In February 2022, DuPont launched a new online sales portal for the needs of bioprocessing industry purchasers. DuPont bioprocessing enables sophisticated separations and purification for therapeutics, with different DuPont brands such as AmberChrom and AmberLite being very well established in the biopharma industry.
Merck KGaA is a pharmaceutical and chemical organization. The Company researches drugs in oncology and neurodegenerative as well as autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Also, it markets cardiovascular, fertility, endocrinology, and over-the-counter products, as well as products for flat screens and pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, packaging, and coatings. In Sept 2021, Merck KGaA opened a new production facility in Gernsheim to strengthen its Xirona and Colorstream Silica-based product line, used in numerous applications for the paints and coating industry.
Key Companies in the Silica Gel market include
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Millennium Chemicals (US)
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Qingdao Haiyang Chemical (China)
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DowDuPont (US)
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Nissan Chemical Industries (Japan)
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Fuji Silysia Chemical (China)
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China National Bluestar Company Limited (China)
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Merck Group (Germany)
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Solvay (Belgium)
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Clariant (Switzerland)
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Evonik Industries (Germany)
Silica Gel Industry Developments
May 2021: W.R. Grace & Co. announced in May 2021 that they finished expanding their manufacturing plants in Kuantan, Malaysia. The company took this step to address the increasing demand for its silica gel products.
On May, 2019, Intermolecular signed a definitive agreement under which it was acquired by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, through its wholly-owned subsidiary at a price of USD 1.20 per share in cash, representing net worth of Intermolecular being approximately USD 62 million dollars. In combination with the Research & Development (R&D) power of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and powered by Intermolecular's strong capability in high-throughput materials testing capabilities would enable material innovation at Merck through parallel composition and comprehensive performance tests and characterizations.
In January 2024, BASF partnered with Stena Recycling to develop a new recycling technology for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) used in electric vehicles.
In December 2023, AGC Inc., known for producing glassware chemicals and high-tech materials, among other things, revealed plans to expand its biopharma CDMO capacity at AGC Yokohama Technical Center.
Silica Gel Market Segmentation
Silica Gel Type Outlook
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Type A
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Type B
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Type C
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Silica Alumina Gel
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Others
Silica Gel Application Outlook
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Desiccant
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Chromatography
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Water Filtration
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Others
Silica Gel End-User Outlook
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Oil & Gas
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Pharmaceuticals
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Petrochemicals
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Others
Silica Gel Regional Outlook
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North America
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US
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Canada
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Europe
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Germany
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France
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UK
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Italy
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Spain
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Rest of Europe
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Asia-Pacific
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China
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Japan
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India
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Australia
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South Korea
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Australia
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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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