U.S. Liquid Sodium Silicate Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (LSS A, B, C), By Application (Detergents, Catalysts, Pulp & Paper, Elastomers, Food & Healthcare), By State, And Segment Forecasts, 2016 - 2024

Report Overview

The U.S. liquid sodium silicate market demand was 799.47 kilotons in 2015 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.5% from 2016 to 2024. Increasing demand for the product in elastomers as a reinforcing filler is expected to drive industry growth over the forecast period. In addition, its growing demand in the paper industry as adhesive or bonding agent is likely to have a positive impact on the market growth. 

Liquid sodium silicate dominates the overall sodium silicate industry, accounting for over 80% of the total production. The U.S. liquid sodium silicate industry is highly competitive owing to the over production capacities than adequate demand. PQ Corporation and OxyChem Corporation dominated the U.S. LSS market in 2015 accounting over 55% of the overall production. 

Growing demand for liquid sodium silicate and its derivatives in niche applications including cements, ceramics, welding rods, agriculture, mining and water treatment expected to propel industry growth over the next eight years. 

The region has significant number of raw material suppliers and geographical advantages in terms of the raw material availability, which is likely to have a positive impact on the market growth. Increasing concern towards environment are likely to compel manufacturers to use bio-based products such as rice husk, which is expected to open new avenues for the industry players. 

Parameters such as raw material prices and ratio, operational and transportation cost are the three key factors which derives the value of final; liquid sodium silicate products. Rising raw material prices in the country are expected reflect into increasing LSS prices, which are likely to hamper the profit margins for the manufacturers over the forecast period 

Product Insights

The LSS A segment of the product, the grades which includes the SiO2:Na2O ratio ranging from 3.22 to 3.5, dominated the industry in 2015 accounting over 70% of the overall demand. Growing demand for such products owing to their excellent wetting and emulsifying properties is expected to drive demand over the next eight years.

LLS B segment covers liquid sodium silicate ranging with the weight ratios from 2.6 to 3.21. These products are thicker than LSS A, owing to the higher density. As a result, they require higher drying time than LSS with higher weight ratios, which makes them less desirable than LSS A grades. However, excellent flexibility offered by these products is expected to drive their demand over the next eight years. 

Application Insights

Detergents was the most prominent application for the U.S. liquid sodium silicate and accounted for over 25% of the overall demand. LSS offers several properties including deflocculating, anti-re-deposition, emulsification and corrosion resistance, which are likely to drive industry growth in detergent application. However, increasing penetration of liquid detergents, which consumes relatively lower volumes of the product is expected to hamper the industry growth in the country. 

Elastomers is expected to be the fastest growing segment. The product improves fatigue resistance, tensile and tear strength of elastomers, as a result is anticipated to gain significant demand in elastomer industry over the projected period. 

Regional Insights

Texas is one of the key locations for the liquid sodium silicate manufacturing owing to the presence of the major LSS manufacturer, OxyChem and PQ Corporation. In addition, Texas has over 25 operable refineries, with the catalytic reforming capacity over 991,600 barrel/ day. As a result, growing demand for catalysts with the rising oil & gas and petroleum refining activities in the state the demand for the product is expected to grow over the forecast period. 

Illinois is one of the leading soda ash manufacturing states in the U.S. The region has several detergent manufacturers and suppliers including B. E. Atlas Company, M.J. Rapoport & Co., Inc., Addison Building Materials and MSC Industrial Supply Co. is expected to drive demand for liquid sodium silicate industry in the region. 

The demand for liquid sodium silicate in the Mississippi was dominated by the detergent application. Rising demand for detergents in metal cleaning, textiles, and household application is expected to propel demand for the cleaning products, which in turn is projected to have a positive impact on the growth of industry over forecast period. 

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The manufacturers in the U.S. had been historically regional in focus, however, with the improvement in the distribution and material handling process the manufacturers are emerging as global players over the past few decades. 

Key industry participants in the industry include PQ Corporation, OxyChem Corporation, PPG Industries and W.R. Grace & Company. OxyChem Corporation offers wide range varying from 1.6 to 3.3 (SiO2:Na2O), which are marketed under the brands names, ‘Grade 40’, ‘Grade 40 clear’, ‘Grade 20 clear’ and ‘Grade 42’. 

PQ Corporation accounts for the largest share in the sodium silicate market in the U.S. The company offers a range of LSS products under its performance chemicals segment. The sodium silicate offered by the company is explicitly used in the detergent, pulp & paper and catalyst applications.

U.S. Liquid Sodium Silicate (LSS) Market Report Scope