North America Sodium Silicate Market Analysis By Application (Detergent, Catalysts, Elastomers, Paper, Food, Healthcare), By Countries (U.S, Canada, Mexico), And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The North America sodium silicate market size was estimated at USD 730.7 million in 2016. Increasing demand for sodium silicate derived products including precipitated zeolite, silica, and silica gel across various industries including detergents, rubber, food & beverages, paper and pulp is expected to drive the industry growth.

The North America sodium silicate industry is highly competitive with the presence of key industry players which are integrated across the value chain. It reduces their dependency on raw material suppliers thus increasing their profit margins. Demand-supply gap due to higher production volumes of existing manufacturers such as PQ Corporation, OxyChem Corporation, and PPG Industries is expected to pose a threat to new players.

The U.S. dominated the product demand owing to the presence of several of oil refineries, pulp and paper industries and detergent manufacturing companies. The geographical advantage for the region regarding raw material availability is expected to have a positive impact on the industry in the U.S.

The presence of alternative chemicals such as sodium carbonate, trisodium phosphate which can be easily employed to manufacture sodium silicate derived products is likely to hamper industry growth over the projected period. In addition, the presence of low-cost substitute for silicate downstream product such as carbon black is expected to impact market growth.

Silicates are a key welding additive, and all both solid and liquid forms of the product are used in this application. Though the demand for sodium silicate in welding application is niche, it is expected to be an important application segment owing to rising demand for welding in consumer care, manufacturing and automotive industry.

The price of the sodium silicate is derived from the three key parameters including raw material cost, operational and transportation expenses associated with the product. Increasing raw material pricing coupled with rising industry rivalry in the region is likely to compel manufacturers to lower product cost, which is expected to hamper the profit margins for the industry players.

Application Insights

In North America, sodium silicate demand in detergents was valued over USD 180.7 million in 2016 and is likely to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2017 to 2025. The product offers superior deflocculation, wetting and emulsification properties which improve the overall detergent performance. Increasing use of liquid detergents in the region owing to rising consumer concerns towards hygiene is expected to propel industry growth.

Elastomers is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 5.7% from 2017 to 2025, owing to high product penetration in tire manufacturing industry. Sodium silicate increases tear strength and tensile resistance of elastomers, thus improving the overall product performance. The aforementioned factors coupled with the growth of automotive industry in the region is expected to drive industry growth.

Zeolite, a downstream product of sodium silicate is the most preferred refinery catalyst and is accountable for over 30% of the refinery catalyst market. Growing demand for zeolites in various refinery processes including FCC, catalytic reforming, and hydrotreating is expected to drive demand.

The demand for the product in pulp and paper manufacturing is likely to grow at a CAGR of 3.1% from 2017 to 2025. The product is used for various applications in the paper manufacturing industry including bleaching, paper sizing and coatings, thus driving the industry growth over the projected period.

Country Insights

The U.S accounted for a significant share of sodium silicate production owing to the presence over 20 soluble silicate manufacturing plants in the region ensuring adequate production volume. The market benefitted from the increased penetration of the silica derivatives in various application industries including food, oral care, health care, and pulp and paper industry.

The U.S. is a hub for oil & gas operations, with the existence of over 140 refineries as of 2016. As a result, the product demand for catalyst manufacturing is expected to grow at a significant rate over the projected period. Furthermore, the presence of major pulp and paper manufacturing companies in the region including Georgia-Pacific and Mississippi River Pulp is expected to propel product demand over the projected period.

The product demand in detergents in Mexico was valued at USD 8.71 billion in 2016 and is likely witness growth of CAGR of 5.6% from 2017 to 2025. The Presence of major detergent manufacturing companies such as Unilever and P&G in the region is expected to drive growth.

Canada is world’s fifth largest producer of natural gas and sixth largest producer of oil. The increasing demand for the product in oil drilling activities for thinning of limestone and petroleum muds in the pipeline or bore well is expected to have a positive impact on the industry growth.

Competitive Insights

The manufacturers in the region had been historically served the domestic markets, however, with the enhancement in material handling and distribution process these producers are emerging as the global players. Opportunities for new product development with low cost is expected to compel manufacturers to invest more on innovations and R&D.

The manufacturers in the region are likely to focus on the niche application segments for the product including welding rods, mining, cement, water treatment and agriculture to strengthen their market presence. Furthermore, the manufacturers are expected to shift their focus to alternative bio-based raw materials such as rice husk in order to compete the rising prices associated with traditional raw materials.

Report Scope

Segments covered in the report

This report forecasts revenue growth at country levels and provides an analysis on the industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the North America Sodium Silicate market on the basis of application, and countries:

• Application Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Detergents

  • Catalyst

  • Pulp and Paper

  • Elastomers

  • Food and Healthcare

  • Others

• Country Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico