Flat Glass Market Report

Market Insights

“The flat glass market size was US$ 121.5 Billion in 2023 and is likely to grow at an impressive CAGR of 4.9 % in the long run to reach US$ 186.5 Billion in 2032.”

Market Dynamics

Introduction

Flat glasses are large panels used in various applications such as windows, doors, mirrors, and cladding. Some of them include the float glass method in which the glass is supported on a layer of molten metal and the other processes include; the PPG method and the ribbon method. Flat glass has high levels of transparency and durability and wide application in the construction, automotive, and solar industries. It can then be further treated or coated with some material even to increase properties such as insulation, heat resistance, UV protection, etc.

The flat glass market is underlain by the growth in the demand for energy-efficient premises and automobiles because flat glass is used in glazed structures and vehicle bodies which enhance the insulation effect. This market is expanding the construction and Infrastructure segment, especially in the emergent economy because flat glass plays an important role in residential, commercial, and industrial construction. Also, innovations, including Low-E coatings and smart glass, are again driving the market forward and making it better through superior energy efficiency. The demand for flat glass in the automotive sector for constructing vehicle windows apart from other requirements also helps to drive the growth of the flat glass market.

Recent Market JV and Acquisition:

• In October 2023, Vitro reported that it continues with First Solar because it inked another deal that would supply the glass front sheets for the solar panels produced by First Solar in North America. Approximately USD 180M will be spent to retrofit these current facilities to accommodate the new contract expansion according to Vitro. The objectives of the expansion are expected to create incremental sales of roughly USD 1.3 billion within the subsequent ten years, alongside the first 1.2-billion-dollar deal.
• In July 2023 Cardinal Glass Industries Inc. released information on the restructuring and growth of Cardinal CT Company’s Custom Tempering operations in the Western U.S. The Dixon, California tempering facility was purchased by Cardinal CT less than two years ago and new building expansion, optimized floor plan, and new equipment at the tempering facility at Dixon, California have just been established. All these changes have made capacity, efficiency, and productivity levels go up.
• Saint-Gobain India, which is a unit of the France-based construction materials major, proposed to invest USD 215 MN, towards capacity enhancement during the year 2023. This is in its strategic direction for capital investments of up to 970 million USD between the year 2022 to 2025.

Segments Analysis

By Product Type

“Toughened glass is expected to remain the dominant product type in the market during the forecast period.”

• The flat glass market is segmented into basic float glass, toughened glass, coated glass, laminated glass, extra clear glass, and others.
• This glass is thicker and more resilient compared to normal glass since it is designed to offer lower impact resistance in aspects such as construction windows and facades and automotive industries.
•  In the case of an accident, instead of sharp pieces, it cracks into small, rounded, and safe edges, thus the reason why it is so suitable for safety gazers.
• It is employed in civil engineering, automobile manufacturing, computer manufacturing, and the housing industry because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and easy formability.

By Technology

“Float glass is expected to remain the dominant product type in the market during the forecast period.”

• The flat glass market is segmented into float, rolled, and sheet.
• This product can be made very cheap compared to other glass products, hence making it cheaper for various uses.
• This is the reason it is used in construction, automotive, and electronics industries because it is clear, manageable, and flexible to be produced in size and thickness.
• Float glass manufacturing process enables bulk production of large, flat pieces that are equal in size to the increasing need in construction and automobile industries.
• Float glass can be coated to improve its energy performance including Low-E coatings used in the glass to increase insulating capacity in response to the growing need for energy-efficient structures. Automotive, and electronics, due to its clarity, ease of handling, and ability to be customized in terms of size and thickness.

By End-Use Industry

“Construction & infrastructure is expected to remain the dominant product type in the market during the forecast period.”

• The flat glass market is segmented into construction & infrastructure, automotive & transportation, solar energy, and others.
• Expanded construction of homes, offices, and factories necessitates the use of flat glasses especially for windows, façade, partitions, and glazing.
• Expansion of housing and commercial space in the form of buildings across rapidly developing urban areas and emerging economies remains a key driver of flat glass demand in building & construction industries.
• The energy utilization of buildings is rising and flat glass especially that which has an energy-saving layer is of great importance in decreasing the cost of heating and cooling in buildings.
• Current architectural style trends significantly incorporate the use of glass in large façade systems, skylights, and clear structures which see flat glass as a crucial architectural component in current architectural designs.

Regional Analysis

“Asia-Pacific is expected to remain the largest market for flat glass market during the forecast period”.

• The region is witnessing a steady rate of urbanization hence creating demand for more housing, and more and improved commercial and industrial buildings to meet the growing need for flat glasses used in construction projects.
• Railway construction, roads, bridges, etc are extending a large area so there is a high demand for flat glass in construction and architectural applications.
• Asia-Pacific as China, India, and Japan has a large automobile industry that will boost the demand for flat glass in automotive applications such as windows.
• The growth of the economy in countries such as China, India, and Southeast Asia supports manufacturing construction industries, and industrial products all need flat glass.

Key Players

The following are the key players in the flat glass market.

Here is the list of the Top Players (Based on Dominance)

• Asahi Glass
• Saint-Gobain
• Nippon Sheet Glass
• Guardian Industries
• Taiwan Glass Ind. Corp.

Note: The above list does not necessarily include all the top players of the market.

Are you the leading player in this market? We would love to include your name. Write to us at [email protected]

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
• Market trend and forecast analysis.
• Market segment trend and forecast.
• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Service portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
• COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve.
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
• Emerging trends.
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
• Key success factors.

The global flat glass market is segmented into the following categories. 

Flat Glass Market, by Product Type

• Basic Float Glass (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Toughened Glass (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Coated Glass (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Laminated Glass (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Extra Clear Glass (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Flat Glass Market, by Technology

• Float (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Rolled (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Sheet (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Flat Glass Market, by End-Use Industry

• Construction & Infrastructure (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Automotive & Transportation (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Solar Energy (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Flat Glass Market, by Region

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Russia, and Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan, China, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Others)

Research Methodology

• This strategic assessment report from Stratview Research provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s flat glass market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period 
• The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner in order to provide a panoramic view of the market.
• The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants as well as investors in the identification of the low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as to formulate growth strategies to expedite their growth process.
• This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools.
• More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data.
• We conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Customization Options

With this detailed report, Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respectable clients:

Company Profiling

• Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to three players)
• SWOT analysis of key players (up to three players)

Competitive Benchmarking

• Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Service portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances

Custom Research: Stratview Research offers custom research services across sectors. In case of any custom research requirement related to market assessment, competitive benchmarking, sourcing and procurement, target screening, and others, please send your inquiry to [email protected]