US demand to grow 3.7% annually through 2013 US specialty silica demand is projected to increase 3.7 percent per year to $1.7 billion in 2013, led by healthy advances in the large precipitated silica segment. Overall volume gains are forecast to accelerate from the pace of the 2003- 2008 period, benefitting from an expected rebound in nondurable goods output through 2013. Despite this improvement in volume growth, advances in market value will be limited by a significant moderation in specialty silica pricing following the exceptionally rapid price increases that characterized much of the 2003-2008 period.
Precipitated silica to be fastest growing type Precipitated silica accounts for the largest share of specialty silica demand in both volume and value terms. This silica type will also constitute the fastest-growing segment of the market, aided by aboveaverage gains in its primary market -- tire rubber. Increasing use of precipitated silica as a replacement for carbon black in tire reinforcement applications in the US will offer significant opportunities for growth.
Fumed silica represents the second largest product type in value terms, owing to its higher price relative to other silica types. Demand for fumed silica is expected to be healthy, benefitting from gains in small volume markets such as plastics, adhesives and sealants, cosmetics and toiletries, and food and beverages. However, growth in the large electronics market -- where fumed silica finds use in chemical mechanical planarization slurries -- will slow significantly from the pace of the previous decade.
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Additional Information
Tire rubber market to offer best growth opportunities The rubber industry is projected to remain the largest specialty silica market through 2013. All types of silica are used in rubber applications, but demand is dominated by precipitated silica, with fumed and fused types also accounting for appreciable shares of demand. This market can be divided into tire and nontire applications, with the nontire segment accounting for more than half of demand. However, the tire rubber market is expected to expand more rapidly, surpassing specialty silica volume demand in the nontire segment by 2013. Above-average gains will reflect greater use of precipitated silica in the production of “green” tires, which offer increased fuel efficiency and enhanced performance relative to conventional carbon black tires. Demand will benefit from the growing popularity of these tires in the US due to recent high fuel costs and increasing environmental awareness. Efforts on the part of auto makers to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles in order to comply with new corporate average fuel economy standards will also support expansion.
The cosmetics and toiletries market, which represents the second largest market in value terms, will also advance at an above-average pace through 2013. Precipitated silica accounts for the vast majority of demand this market, and will benefit from a rebound in toothpaste production. Continued growth in highperformance toothpaste and gel sales will also support advances, as will specialty silica use in non-toothpaste cosmetic and toiletry applications such as skin and hair care products.
Study coverage This new Freedonia industry study, Specialty Silicas, is priced at $4600. It presents historical demand data (1998, 2003, 2008) and forecasts for 2013 and 2018 by product (e.g., precipitated silica, fumed silica, silica gel, silica sol, fused silica) and end-use market (rubber, cosmetics and toiletries, coatings and inks, chemicals, plastics, electrical and electronic equipment). The study also considers market environment factors, discusses competitive variables evaluates company market share and profiles 30 industry participants.
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