Float Glass Market Size
| Study Period | 2024 - 2029 |
| Market Volume (2024) | 71.57 Million tons |
| Market Volume (2029) | 86.16 Million tons |
| CAGR (2024 - 2029) | > 3.50 % |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Largest Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Market Concentration | High |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Float Glass Market Analysis
The Float Glass Market size is estimated at 71.57 Million tons in 2024, and is expected to reach 86.16 Million tons by 2029, growing at a CAGR of greater than 3.5% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
The major consumer of float glass is the construction industry, and with the widespread COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the industry was significantly impacted in a negative way as it halted and even delayed the construction activities of several building and construction projects. With the restart of a few construction activities after COVID-19 in 2021 and 2022, the demand for float glass started to increase.
- Over the short term, major factors driving the market studied are the increasing demand from the construction industry and the recovering automotive industry.
- Some of the factors restraining the demand for the market studied include the increasing price of raw materials, declining demand for certain types of glasses, and environmental impact related to float glass production, among other scenarios.
- Nevertheless, the huge growth potential of the solar sector is likely to create lucrative growth opportunities in the market studied.
- Asia-Pacific dominated the market across the world, with the most substantial consumption from countries like China and India.
Float Glass Market Trends
Increasing Demand from Building and Construction Segments
- Float glass has become a fundamental element in architectural and design projects, ranging from gleaming skyscrapers to modern co-ops and opulent villas to stylish workplaces. In commercial applications, float glass is becoming increasingly popular. It enables the construction of structures while giving the sense of being outdoors and providing the benefits of being inside and sheltered from the weather.
- In building and construction applications, float glass is majorly used in windows for both functional and aesthetic purposes, which allows clear sight for customers looking out of the window and, at the same time, protects them from elements such as UV radiation.
- In addition, the growing urban population and the rise in disposable income of the world population are a few other major factors that have significantly boosted the growth of infrastructure and construction activities across the world. The growth of construction and infrastructure development directly links to the demand for float glass, which tends to drive the growth of the market.
- The recent trend suggests a rapid change in building architecture, with the use of float glass in facades and roofs optimizing natural daylight. Furthermore, the market drivers include technologies such as low-E and triple silver insulated goods.
- According to the Institution of Civil Engineers, the volume of construction output is projected to grow by 85%, with a revenue of USD 15.5 trillion across the world in the upcoming decade, led by emerging countries such as India and China and developed countries like the United States. The growing commercial construction in a wide range of sectors, including education, retail, healthcare, office commercials, and so on, increases the demand for float glass, which drives the growth of the market.
- According to the Global Construction Futures, a study published by the team of construction economists at Oxford Economics, stated that the global construction work done will grow over USD 4.2 trillion over the next 15 years from USD 9.7 trillion in 2022 to US$13.9 trillion by 2037. This is likely to support the demand for float glass from various construction applications.
- For instance, according to the American Institute of Architects, overall non-residential building construction spending in the United States grew by 10% in 2022 over the last year.
- All such aforementioned developments are expected to drive the demand for float glass in the construction industry through the years to come.
Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Market
- The Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate the market for float glass during the forecast period, owing to the demand from industries such as building and construction, solar panels, etc., in countries like China and India.
- According to the International Trade Organization, China is the world's largest construction market and has the highest rate of urbanization across the world. According to data from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Shanghai, by 2025, China is likely to have built a city equivalent to 10 in New York since the 1990s.
- Furthermore, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China, the construction industry is expected to account for 6% of the country's GDP by 2025. The Chinese construction sector plays an increasingly important role in stimulating the economy and stabilizing employment.
- The use of automotive glass in the production of windshields, side windows, and rear windows has significantly improved safety in all parameters. According to the International Trade Organization, China remains the world's largest automotive market in terms of both annual sales and production, with domestic production expected to reach 35 million units by 2025. According to Nikkei Inc., China's vehicle sales increased by 12% in 2023 over 2022, and recorded a sales of 30.09 million units.
- In India, in September 2022, Kotak Special Situations Fund (KSSF), managed by Kotak Investment Advisors Limited (KIAL), announced an investment of about INR 450 crore in Gold Plus Glass Industry Limited, a float-glass manufacturer. This investment would accelerate the company's expansion plans, bring significant benefits to the industry, and help make India self-sufficient in glass, where over 30% of glass demand is currently imported.
- According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of India, the export value of the indian glass industry in 2022 was 40.07 INR billion (USD 482 million), representing a 31.8% increase over the previous year.
- Some of the major companies operating in the Asia-Pacific region are AGC Inc., Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd, and Guardian Glass LLC.
- All the factors, in turn, are projected to have a significant impact on the market growth in the region during the forecast period.
Float Glass Industry Overview
The global float glass market is consolidated. The top five players dominated global production with a significant share in the previous year. Some of the key companies in the market include (not in any particular order) AGC Inc., Saint-Gobain, Guardian Glass, LLC, Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd, and Şişecam, among other companies.
Float Glass Market Leaders
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AGC Inc.
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Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
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Şişecam
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Saint-Gobain
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Guardian Glass, LLC
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Float Glass Market News
- July 2023: Cardinal Glass Industries, Inc. announced the launch of CLiC, an on-demand privacy glass that provides instant privacy with light transmission in privacy mode, along with views from any angle in clear mode.
- June 2023: Etex Group closed the acquisition of the United Kingdom's insulation producer, Superglass. Through this deal, Etex Group extended its European footprint for sustainable insulation beyond its existing presence with glass mineral wool and extruded polystyrene manufacturer URSA.
- April 2023: Cardinal Glass Industries, Inc. announced a USD 40 million expansion project of 215,000-square-foot in Virginia, United States. Also stated that the equipment required would be there by halfway through 2024, and the project would be completed by the first quarter of 2025.
- January 2023: Guardian Glass, LLC signed an agreement to acquire Vortex Glass to expand its make-to-order fabrication business to supply key customers in Florida and the Caribbean with hurricane laminated and insulated glass.
- November 2022: AGC Glass France, the French subsidiary of AGC Inc., announced the shutdown of the B2 float line of the Boussois site as a direct consequence of the current energy crisis.
- September 2022: SCHOTT partnered with Emirates Glass LLC, one of the leading processors of architectural flat glass in the Middle East, to lift up Middle Eastern architecture.
- April 2022: AGC Glass Europe partnered with energy company E.ON on a joint project for waste heat recovery and production of green power at AGC's float glass plant in Seingbouse, France. This project is expected to be developed, implemented, financed, and operated by E.ON.
- January 2022: China Glass Holdings Limited (CNG) acquired the Orda float glass manufacturing facility in Kazakhstan. It aims to be the most modern industrial float glass facility in the world using the latest float glass technology designed and supplied by Stewart. With this acquisition, China Glass Holdings is expected to seek out the great potential of the Kazakhstanian glass industry.
Float Glass Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Study Assumptions
1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET DYNAMICS
4.1 Drivers
4.1.1 Increasing Demand from the Construction Industry
4.1.2 Growing Automotive Industry
4.2 Restraints
4.2.1 Increasing Price of Raw Materials
4.2.2 Declining Demand for Certain Types of Glasses
4.2.3 Environmental Impact Related to Float Glass Production
4.3 Industry Value Chain Analysis
4.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
4.4.3 Threat of New Entrants
4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products and Services
4.4.5 Degree of Competition
4.5 Raw Material Analysis
4.5.1 Sand
4.5.2 Limstone
4.5.3 Soda Ash
4.5.4 Dolomite
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION (Market Size in Volume)
5.1 Type
5.1.1 Clear
5.1.2 Tinted
5.1.3 Patterned
5.1.4 Wired
5.1.5 Extra Clear/Low Ferrous Floated Glass
5.2 Application
5.2.1 Building and Construction
5.2.2 Automotive
5.2.3 Solar Glass
5.2.4 Other Applications
5.3 Geography
5.3.1 Asia-Pacific
5.3.1.1 China
5.3.1.2 India
5.3.1.3 Japan
5.3.1.4 South Korea
5.3.1.5 Vietnam
5.3.1.6 Thailand
5.3.1.7 Indonesia
5.3.1.8 Malaysia
5.3.1.9 Rest of Asia-Pacific
5.3.2 North America
5.3.2.1 United States
5.3.2.2 Canada
5.3.2.3 Mexico
5.3.3 Europe
5.3.3.1 Germany
5.3.3.2 United Kingdom
5.3.3.3 France
5.3.3.4 Italy
5.3.3.5 Russia
5.3.3.6 NORDIC
5.3.3.7 Turkey
5.3.3.8 Spain
5.3.3.9 Rest of Europe
5.3.4 South America
5.3.4.1 Brazil
5.3.4.2 Colombia
5.3.4.3 Argentina
5.3.4.4 Rest of South America
5.3.5 Middle East and Africa
5.3.5.1 Saudi Arabia
5.3.5.2 Nigeria
5.3.5.3 Qatar
5.3.5.4 United Arab Emirates
5.3.5.5 Egypt
5.3.5.6 South Africa
5.3.5.7 Rest of Middle East and Africa
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements
6.2 Market Ranking Analysis
6.3 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players
6.4 Company Profiles
6.4.1 AGC Inc.
6.4.2 BG
6.4.3 Cardinal Glass Industries, Inc.
6.4.4 China Glass Holdings Limited
6.4.5 China Luoyang Float Glass Group Co., Ltd.
6.4.6 Etex Group
6.4.7 Guardian Glass, LLC
6.4.8 Kibing Group
6.4.9 Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd
6.4.10 PRESS GLASS Holding SA
6.4.11 PT Mulia Industrindo Tbk
6.4.12 Saint-Gobain
6.4.13 SCHOTT
6.4.14 Taiwan Glass Ind. Corp.
6.4.15 Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited
- *List Not Exhaustive
7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
7.1 Huge Growth Potential From Solar Sector
Float Glass Industry Segmentation
Float glass is a type of flat glass produced by the float glass process. It is a smooth, distortion-free glass used in designing other glass items such as laminated glass and heat-toughened glass. With a natural greenish hue and translucent nature, it can transmit about 87% of the incident light, and unlike sheet glass, float glass provides users with a crystal-clear view.
The float glass market is segmented by raw material, type, application, and geography. By type, the market is segmented into clear, tinted, patterned, wired, and extra clear or low ferrous floated glass. By application, the market is segmented into building and construction, automotive, solar glass, and other applications (display cases, etc.). The report also covers the market size and forecasts for the float glass market in 28 countries across major regions. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done on the basis of volume (tons).
| Type | |
| Clear | |
| Tinted | |
| Patterned | |
| Wired | |
| Extra Clear/Low Ferrous Floated Glass |
| Application | |
| Building and Construction | |
| Automotive | |
| Solar Glass | |
| Other Applications |
| Geography | |||||||||||
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Float Glass Market Research FAQs
How big is the Float Glass Market?
The Float Glass Market size is expected to reach 71.57 million tons in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of greater than 3.5% to reach 86.16 million tons by 2029.
What is the current Float Glass Market size?
In 2024, the Float Glass Market size is expected to reach 71.57 million tons.
Who are the key players in Float Glass Market?
AGC Inc., Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd., Şişecam, Saint-Gobain and Guardian Glass, LLC are the major companies operating in the Float Glass Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Float Glass Market?
Asia-Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2024-2029).
Which region has the biggest share in Float Glass Market?
In 2024, the Asia-Pacific accounts for the largest market share in Float Glass Market.
What years does this Float Glass Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the Float Glass Market size was estimated at 69.07 million tons. The report covers the Float Glass Market historical market size for years: . The report also forecasts the Float Glass Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Float Glass Industry Report
Statistics for the 2024 Float Glass market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Float Glass analysis includes a market forecast outlook to 2029 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
