The Asia-Pacific is expected to be largest and the fastest-growing market for flat glass during the forecast period. The high demand for flat glass in this region can be attributed to the rising demand from the construction & infrastructural sectors. The high penetration of flat glass products in this region can also be attributed to the growth in sectors, such as automotive & transportation, solar energy, and home appliances. The presence of key players, such as Asahi Glass, Nippon Sheet Glass, Taiwan Glass, and Saint-Gobain is also expected to support the growth of the market in the coming years.
In Asia-Pacific, the consumption of flat glass has increased significantly in the construction & infrastructure sector. The demand for various flat glass products, such as laminated glass, toughened glass, coated glass, and extra clear glass has increased in recent years, due to their advanced properties and the increasing need for sustainable & environmental-friendly infrastructure.
Automotive & transportation is the fastest-growing end-use industry segment for flat glass products. Flat glass has wide applications in the automotive & transportation end-use industry for backlights, windscreens, windows, and sunroofs of automobiles. Growing automobile production and increased penetration of flat glass in cars and other transport vehicles are some of the major factors expected to drive the demand for flat glass products, globally.
The laminated glass product type is projected to be the fastest-growing flat glass product type segment during the forecast period. The toughened glass segment dominated the flat glass market in terms of value in 2016, due to the superior properties of toughened glass and its extensive applications in the construction industry.
Some of the key global players operating in the flat glass market are Asahi Glass (Japan), Saint-Gobain (France), Nippon Sheet Glass (Japan), Guardian Industries (U.S.), and Taiwan Glass (Taiwan).
