Global Flat Glass Market Size, Share, Opportunities, COVID-19 Impact, And Trends By Product (Basic Float, Laminated, Tempered, Insulating, Others), By Application (Automotive, Construction, Energy And Power, Others), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2021 To 2026

The global flat glass market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.92% to reach US$143.063 billion by 2026, from US$95.649 billion in 2019.

There are four primary sub-sectors within the glass industry: container, flat, fibre, and speciality glass. The phrase "flat glass" refers to all glass that is manufactured in a flat shape, regardless of the production technique used. Flat glass is manufactured in furnaces all around the world and is also known as plate glass or sheet glass. The production process begins with sand and includes melting the glass compound's combination of ingredients into a liquid condition before spreading it onto a sheet. After that, the molten liquid is cooled to get the required product. Flat glasses are made by carefully regulated thermal and chemical processes to ensure structural robustness. Despite this, flat glass is extremely adaptable and adjustable once it is manufactured.

The flat glass market is growing due to the rising demand for tempered goods in the commercial building industry due to its features of offering an undistorted vision. In ultra-thin glass for cellphones, flat glass with multiple layers offers strength that improves use. The market is expected to increase in response to the rising demand for cost-effective flat glass components in the aftermarket automobile industry. The construction sector, which uses flat glass in windows and facades for buildings and residences, is one of the largest end-users. Rapid urbanization, globalization, government backing for the building sector, and a growing population all contribute to the construction industry's expansion. In some ways, the expansion of the flat glass sector is directly related to the growth of the building business, as the growth causes for both industries are similar, such as growing consumer disposable income. Low-E flat glass is in high demand in the building sector due to rising energy efficiency. Flat glass is widely utilized in the building sector due to its wide range of functions, which include heat insulation, soundproofing, and safety and solar protection. Flat glass is commonly used in windows in building and construction applications for both practical and aesthetic reasons, allowing consumers to see out of the window while also protecting them from the elements such as UV radiation.

Self-cleaning glass is one of the latest developments in flat glass. Growing commercial construction in a variety of sectors, such as education, retail, healthcare, office businesses, and others, boosts demand for flat glass, propelling the industry forward. Another element contributing to market expansion is the thriving automobile industry. Automobile makers are increasingly using tempered glass because of its shatterproof characteristics, which can help avoid serious injuries and even death in the event of an accident. Other factors, such as the use of nanotechnology in the production of lightweight glazing glass and solar control panels, also contribute to the market's positive outlook.

Growth Factors

Increasing end-user applications of flat glass

One of the major reasons for the growth of the global flat glass market is the growing demand for flat glass in various end-user applications. Flat glass is projected to be in high demand for solar panels, given the intentional shift toward renewable energy sources for electric power generation, which has resulted in a rise in solar panel production. The growing desire to create a more sustainable future has helped in the demand for panels that primarily employ flat glass as a protective barrier, paving the way for the flat glass industry to develop soon. 

There have been other end-user applications. The use of flat glass is mostly due to significant growth in the global manufacturing of vehicles. Aftermarket replacement glass for vehicles is expected to add to the global flat glass market's growth in the coming years.

There has been a substantial number of firms offering a flat glass to their customers. For instance, Schott, one of the key firms, has been providing flat glass products to commercial refrigeration and major home appliance customers in over 60 nations. 

Restraints 

• Stringent regulations regarding carbon dioxide emission and the lack of logistics restraints the market growth 

A major restraint in the growth of the global flat glass market is stringent regulation regarding the emission of carbon dioxide by governments of various nations. Process emissions, as well as fossil fuel burning, result in direct CO2 emissions. Process emissions come from the decarbonization of the carbonate raw materials in the process input, particularly sodium carbonate Na2CO3, limestone CaCO3, and dolomite CaMg (CO3)2. The regulations regarding the increasing emissions of carbon dioxide into the environment causing global warming and the release of other harmful air particulates into the environment harmful to humans has resulted in growing concerns in recent years. Also, the lack of logistics processes involved in flat glass production and transportation has further restrained its market growth during the forecast period.

Competitive Insights

The market leaders for the flat glass market are Saint-Gobain, Central Glass Co., Ltd., Cardinal Glass Industries, Inc., Vitro, AGC Inc., GUARDIAN GLASS LLC, TAIWAN GLASS IND. CORP, Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited, CSG Holding Co., Ltd., and PPG Industries.

Segmentation:

The global flat glass market has been analyzed through the following segments:

• By Product
  • Basic Float
  • Laminated
  • Tempered
  • Insulating
  • Others
• By Application
  • Automotive
  • Construction
  • Energy and Power
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • UK
    • Germany
    • France
    • Spain
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • UAE
    • Israel
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • Japan
    • China
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Taiwan
    • Thailand
    • Others