Precipitated silica will remain dominant, with the adoption of “green tires” in North America and
the Asia/Pacific regions, plus new tire labeling regulations in the EU, Japan and South Korea.
Worldwide demand to rise
5.6% yearly through 2016
World demand for specialty silicas --
which include precipitated silica, fumed
silica, silica gel, and silica sol -- will rise
at a healthy 5.6 percent annual pace to
2.8 million metric tons in 2016. In value
terms, the market will grow 7.5 percent
per year to $6.4 billion. Volume demand
will be bolstered by rising use in the
rubber market due to increased use of
silica in tire treads and higher levels of
tire production, and by recovery in the
manufacturing sector. In both value and
volume terms, the market will improve
from the 2006-2011 period, when it was
negatively impacted by the worldwide
economic recession of 2009.
“Green tires” to fuel precipitated
silica demand
Precipitated silica, the dominant specialty
silica product, will continue to
account for over two-thirds of global
demand through 2021. Above average
growth will be fueled by the adoption of
“green tires,” especially in North America
and the Asia/Pacific region. New tire
labeling regulations in the EU, Japan,
and South Korea will increase demand
for precipitated silica in tire treads, where
precipitated silica lowers rolling resistance
(improving fuel economy) and
improves wet grip.
Demand for fumed silica will be boosted
by an acceleration in non-tire rubber
demand -- and in particular silicone
rubber -- in industrial applications. Silica
sol will increase at an average pace,
benefiting from the acceleration in the
manufacturing sector, which will boost
demand for silicas in refractories, metals,
and textiles. Demand growth for silica
gel will be limited by market maturity in
applications such as food and beverages
and cat litter, restraining overall growth.
Tire rubber to be fastest
growing rubber market
Rubber will continue to account for the
majority of demand and will continue to
be the fastest growing market. Tire
rubber will realize the most rapid gains,
driven by higher levels of tire production
as the motor vehicle industry continues
to recover and as green tires are increasingly
utilized in North America and
the Asia/Pacific region. The rate of
adoption will be positively influenced as
tire makers pursue consumer-education
marketing efforts and tire labeling regulations
are enacted (or come under
consideration) in various regions.
Silica demand in non-tire rubber applications
will be in line with average silica
demand, as the economic recovery will
aid industrial rubber products demand.
Strong gains will also exist in the chemical
and industrial processing markets.
The cosmetics and toiletries, food and
feed, and smaller markets will post less
rapid gains, as those markets have
realized maturity in developed countries.
Study Scope
This study analyzes the 2.1 million metric ton world specialty silica industry. It presents historical demand data for the years 2001, 2006 and 2011, and forecasts for 2016 and 2021 by product (precipitated silica, silica gel, silica sol, fumed silica), market (e.g., tire rubber, non-tire rubber, chemicals, cosmetics and toiletries, food and feed, industrial processing), world region and for 16 major countries.
The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 33 industry players, including Evonik Industries, WR Grace and Rhodia.
