More Glass More Silica
More Glass Means More Silica Sand Demand
The demand for more glass is a result of the increase in construction, automotive production, and high-tech applications for “smart glass”. As impressive as the CAGR numbers for silica sand are, it’s easy to see the source of increasing demand for it when examining the glass market which makes up 1/3 of the silica sand market.
For now. Grand View Research is projecting an astounding 7.1% CAGR even in the conventional flat glass market, which is projected to reach $124.14 billion by 2022. Tempered glass for both the automotive industry and window and roofing applications in the construction industry is increasingly required for safety reasons and increased production in both sectors is forecast.
Demand for “smart glass” such as electrochromic glass is on the rise for use in energy-efficient construction applications and sunlight control in commercial construction of hospitals, schools, and retail spaces.
Smart glass R&D in the energy industry is predicted to increase demand for smart glass in power generation applications in the near future.
All totaled, demand for smart glass can fuel the most robust growth in the glass manufacturing sector with a projected CAGR of 15.2% and an additional $9.98 billion in market size by 2025. Smart glass is now replacing traditional glass in a host of applications including:
- smart technology in architecture, for both residential and civil construction
- automobiles
- trains
- aircraft
- consumer electronics