Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing
Companies in this industry manufacture glass and glass products, including glass containers, flat glass, fiberglass, and specialty glass products. Major companies include Corning, Guardian Industries, and O-I Glass (all based in the US), as well as AGC (Japan), Compagnie de Saint-Gobain (France), Fuyao Glass Industry Group (China), and SCHOTT (Germany).
Global market value for fabricated flat glass is growing and expected to reach about $350 billion by 2028, according to Statista. Top exporters include Canada, Germany, Mexico, China, and Japan.
The US glass and glass product manufacturing industry includes about 1,700 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of $30 billion.
Most companies in the industry manufacture products from bulk glass bought from a handful of primary glass manufacturers. Production of optical fiber from glass is included in the industry; use of that fiber to produce fiber optic cable is not.
Competitive Landscape
Demand comes mainly from the construction, auto, bottling, and container industries. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations, because most products are commodities that are bought based on price. Large manufacturers enjoy significant economies of scale in operations, which is why the industry is so concentrated. Small manufacturers can compete effectively by producing specialty products or serving a local market. The US industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for about 80% of revenue.
Imports and exports of glass and glass products account for about 20% and 30%, respectively. Imports come primarily from China, Mexico, Germany, and Japan. The top market for exports include Canada, Germany, Mexico, and China.
Products, Operations & Technology
Glass products are made by melting silica sand or cullet, or from purchased glass. Specialized glass for windows and doors accounts for about 40% of the
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