Sodium Silicate Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Pulp & Paper, Catalysts, Detergents, Elastomers, Food & Healthcare), By Region, Competitive Landscape, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global sodium silicate market size was estimated at USD 6.13 billion in 2017. It is likely to exhibit a CAGR of 3.2% over the forecast period. Surging demand for other sodium derivatives such as zeolites and precipitated silica as catalysts in bio and chemical processes is projected to stumlate the growth of the market over the forecast period.

Sodium silicate is a key source of reactive silica that has high demand in numerous application industries including detergents, rubber, food & beverage, and paper & pulp. Increasing demand for other sodium derivatives such as silica gels and silica sols in applications including paints and coatings, plastics, and ink, is estimated to provide a tremendous push to the market during the forecast period.

The demand for the compound in China was valued at USD 1.09 billion in 2017. Flourishing pulp and paper industry in China, owing to presence of large forest sector coupled with favorable government regulations, is anticipated to contribute to the growth of the market over the forecast period.

Manufacturing is a capital-intensive process and involves use of various machineries including glass tank furnace, agitators, boilers and accessories, and storage drums. The compound is manufactured primarily using silica and sodium carbonate. Ratios of the raw materials used for the manufacturing of the compound generally varies based on the final desired product specifications.

Price trend of sodium silicate is impacted by certain key parameters, including raw material cost and transportation costs (depending on customer location). In 2016, price of sodium carbonate, an important raw material for manufacturing the compound, declined, which caused a drop in prices of end products. However, prices recovered quickly in 2017 as prices of sodium carbonate also stabilized.

High investments by manufacturing companies for R&D activities to improve chemical and physical properties of the product are poised to drive prices in the future. Rapid growth of end-use industries including food & beverages, catalysts, and elastomers, across the globe is also expected to stoke the growth of the market over the forecast period.

Application Insights

Some of the primary applications of sodium silicate are catalysts, detergents, elastomers, pulp and paper, and food and healthcare. In 2017, detergents represented the leading share in the market. The product has high demand as a detergent builder owing to its superior emulsification and wetting and deflocculation properties. Application of the compound in detergents reduces surface tension, which results in improved dirt and soil removal.

The compound reacts with dissolved polyvalent cations to give its precipitates. Zeolite and precipitated silica are the key downstream products obtained with this process. There is a high demand for these products as catalysts in bio and chemical processes. As a result, the catalyst segment is anticipated to register a CAGR of 3.7% over the forecast period.

Sodium silicates are an important ingredient for manufacturing hydrogen peroxide bleach liquors. Increasing demand for the compound in the pulp beaching industry for deactivating various metals including manganese, iron, and copper is poised to bolster the growth of the sodium silicate market.

Precipitated silica is one of the key products obtained using sodium silicate. It finds wide application scope in production of silicone rubber compounds. The product reduces overall cost of silicone elastomers. In addition, the product improves fatigue resistance and tensile and tear strength of elastomers. Therefore, a sharp rise in the demand for sodium silicate in the elastomer industry is expected during the forecast period.

Regional Insights

The growth of the pulp and paper industry in Mexico coupled with increasing foreign investments is estimated to have a positive influence on the growth of the market in North America. Presence of major pulp and paper manufacturing companies in the region including Copamex, International paper, CMPC, Smurfit Kappa, and Grupo Durango is anticipated to boost the adoption of the compound in manufacturing of bleaching and binding agents.

Europe accounted for over 20.0% of the overall market revenue in 2017. Surging demand for the compound in pulp & paper and healthcare applications is poised to fuel the demand for sodium silicate during the forecast period. Production capacity for glass grade sodium silicate in the region is over 1,400 kilo per annum. However, manufacturers are indulged in captive consumption and often do not offer sodium silicates directly for sales in the market.

The market in Germany is primarily driven by spiraling demand for the product as a filler in the elastomer industry. The Germany market is expected to post a CAGR of 1.8% in terms of revenue over the forecast period. Booming automotive industry coupled with presence of major tire manufacturers such as Continental AG, Fulda, and Troester is likely to spur the growth of the market.

The construction industry in India was valued at over USD 125 billion. It is projected to expand at a significant rate owing to rapid population growth and increasing consumer disposable income. This, in turn, is estimated to stir up the demand for cement and other binding materials, thereby working in favor of the market in India.

Sodium Silicate Market Share Insights

Majority of the companies are likely to target their products aimed for production of silica derivatives, including precipitated silica, silica gel, and zeolites. Manufacturers are projected to focus more on development of wide variety of products in order to expand their application scope in niche segments such as welding, cement, agriculture, and food.

Market participants are employing strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, and product capacity expansion in order to broaden their product portfolio and thus, gain a larger market share. For instance, BASF SE, in November 2017, inaugurated a new production plant focused on chemical catalysts in Caojing, China. The move was aimed at increasing production capacity in order to meet rising demand for chemical catalysts as well as to increase their regional presence.

W.R. Grace & Co. and Chevron Products Company have a joint venture known as Advanced Refining Technologies (ART). In May 2015, the companies announced that they will be investing USD 135 million in their JV to increase its production capacity. The ART manufacturing facility, which is located at Lake Charles, Los Angeles, is primarily focused on sodium silicate, additives, fluid cracking catalysts, and hydroprocessing catalysts.

Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis on latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global sodium silicate market report on the basis of application and region:

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

  • Detergents

  • Catalysts

  • Pulp & Paper

  • Elastomers

  • Food & Healthcare

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Spain

    • Italy

    • Russia

    • Netherlands

    • Switzerland

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • Australia

    • South Korea

    • Thailand

    • Indonesia

    • Singapore

    • New Zealand

    • Philippines

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

    • Chile

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • South Africa

    • United Arab Emirates (UAE)

    • Egypt

    • Iran