Industry Trends

North America Ultra-Thin Glass Market share was over USD 1,679.6 million in 2019 and will grow at a CAGR of more than 12% up to 2026.

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The exponential rise in the demand for consumer electronics in the region is projected to create various opportunities in the market throughout the forecast period. Ultra-thin glass is widely employed in fingerprint sensors, touch panels of various mobile phones, televisions, and other wearable devices. These glasses provide excellent corrosion resistance, flexibility, and durability, making them highly suitable for consumer electronic applications. Moreover, the presence of major consumer electronics manufacturers in the region shall further augment the market growth during the assessment period. However, fluctuations in the raw material prices along with the complex manufacturing process of ultra-thin glass are some of the major factors restraining the market growth. These fluctuations in raw material prices create a major barrier to the entry of new players ,which is projected to be a major downside to the market growth.

Among the various thickness types, the 0.1mm-0.5mm was the dominant segment in 2019 and is projected to exhibit similar trends throughout the forecast period. The 0.1 mm – 0.5 mm thickness grade held a market share of over 60% in 2019 and shall exhibit a CAGR of over 12%. These glasses are widely used in smartphones, tablets, and LCDs. The growing demand for these glasses is likely to further boost the market growth. According to the United States International Trade Commission, the revenue from consumer electronics sales is projected to cross over 65 billion by the end of 2021.

Among the various production types, float process was the most commonly used process in 2019 and is projected to exhibit similar trends throughout the forecast period. In this process, the molten glasses are floated on top of metal and then are biaxially stretched using top rollers or edge. The float glass process aids the manufacturing of distortion-free & high-quality glass with enhanced smoothness.

On the basis of application, flat panel displays, and semiconductors are two major applications smartphones and television displays owing to the lightweight qualities, which reduce the overall weight of electronic products. Moreover, the growing penetration of the internet of Things (IoT) and emergence of new technologies such as 5G are anticipated to boost the demand for ultra-thin glass in the semiconductor industry.

Major companies operating in the industry are Corning, Aircraft Glass, Nippon Sheet Glass, Emerge Glass, CGS HOLDINGS, Luoyang Glass, Schott AG, AGC Pilkington, Taiwan Glass, and Xinyi Ultrathin Glass (Dongguan), among others.