Market Trends of Float Glass Industry
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.
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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.
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