Glass Product Manufacturing in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available

Domestic glass manufacturers will continue to feel the pressure from substitute products replacing glass in many functions, particularly for food packaging. Furthermore, despite economic recovery, demand for glass used in automobiles will remain low in the next five years. On the bright side, a rebound in the residential housing market will boost demand for glass products used in windows, doors and furniture. Glass manufacturers will focus on becoming more efficient and lowering costs to stay competitive against cheaper imports. For these reasons, industry research firm IBISWorld has added a report on the Glass Product Manufacturing industry to its growing industry report collection.

The Glass Product Manufacturing industry's products are used in a variety of applications across the construction, manufacturing, agriculture, automotive, telecommunications, hospitality and household markets. Some segments are involved in the production of basic glass from raw-material inputs, while others, says IBISWorld industry analyst

“Industry sales have steadily declined since the late 1990s,” says Jose, “but this trend accelerated during the mid-2000s, reflecting the impact of the Great Recession on consumer spending and construction trends.” As a result, revenue is estimated to decline an average of 1.6% per year over the five years to 2012. The steady contraction in the domestic glass manufacturing industry is partly the result of imports capturing a greater share of the domestic market and partly due to the substitution of glass container products by alternative packaging materials, notably aluminum cans and extruded plastic bottles. The four major companies in the Glass Product Manufacturing industry – Compagnie de Saint-Gobain,

In 2012, revenue is expected to increase as the industry benefits from the recovery in the downstream construction markets and a boost in consumer spending. The return to synchronized growth in the downstream building markets will lead to improved demand for some segments of the industry. However, continued weak demand for automotive glass products, combined with persistent product substitution and import penetration, will restrain the pace of industry expansion. Going forward, profit margins are expected to shrink as more product substitution and increased imports cut price levels. For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Glass Product Manufacturing report in the US industry page.