Specialty Silicas Growing

Published: November 01, 2010

CLEVELAND, OH | World demand for specialty silicas, which include precipitated silica, fumed silica, silica gel, and silica sol, is expected to rise 6.35%/yr to 2.7 million metric tons in 2014. This is the conclusion of a study from The Freedonia Group.

Silica sol should continue to see favorable opportunities in paper coatings, while increasing its share of the semiconductor polishing market. Silicas also will see strong gains in the chemicals market, as more of these products employ silica additives to improve processability and performance.

Specialty silica demand in the Asia/Pacific region will advance at the fastest pace through 2014, rising nearly 9%/yr to account for half of total world demand. Gains will be fueled by continued double-digit demand growth in China, the world's largest single market for silica.

North America and Western Europe will experience silica demand growth well below the world average, although each will see an acceleration from the sluggish gains of 2004-2009. Silica demand in all other regional markets, including Central and South America, Eastern Europe, and the Africa/Mideast region, will post gains moderately higher than the world average but from a small 2009 base.

For more information on World Specialty Silicas, visit www.freedoniagroup.com.