Fumed Silica Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2029 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2023 |
| CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 4.83 % |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market | Asia Pacific |
| Market Concentration | High |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
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Fumed Silica Market Analysis
The Fumed Silica Market size is estimated at 305.28 kilotons in 2024, and is expected to reach 386.47 kilotons by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.83% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
The market was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Construction and automotive manufacturing activities were on a temporary halt due to the pandemic. This minimized the demand for additives used in the formulation of products such as adhesives, paints, coatings, plastics, and composites, negatively impacting the market demand for fumed silica. However, the market retained its growth trajectory last year due to all the industries resuming production processes.
- Over the short term, the surging demand for fumed silica from products in the personal care segment, such as toothpaste, creams, and others, is expected to drive the market's growth.
- The development of biogenic fumed silica and precipitated silica as a substitute for fumed silica is anticipated to hinder the market's growth.
- The emerging applications of fumed silica in various industries are likely to act as an opportunity.
- The Asia-Pacific region dominated the global market, with the highest consumption coming from countries such as China and India.
Fumed Silica Market Trends
Adhesives and Sealants Application to Dominate the Market
- The primary uses of fumed silica in adhesives and sealants are as anti-sag additives, rheological control additives, and anti-settling additives. Fumed silica is also used as a rheological control additive and sealant reinforcing agent. It enhances the storage stability and processing efficiency of adhesives and sealants.
- Fumed silica in the adhesives and sealants industry is used to enhance the viscosity of the product, enhance anti-settling characteristics during storage, regulate the extrusion characteristics during application, and provide anti-sag characteristics during curing.
- In the construction industry, fumed silica adhesives and sealants are used in structural glazing and weatherproofing, contributing to the energy efficiency of buildings. They also help improve in-shop productivity, reduce material waste, extend building life, and reduce lifecycle costs.
- According to the Institution of Civil Engineers, China, India, and the United States are expected to account for almost 60% of all global growth in the construction sector by 2025, thus increasing the market growth of fumed silica in the industry.
- The United States was among the top construction markets globally. As per the United States Census Bureau, construction was the 12th largest industry in the country in 2022 and accounted for approximately 4.3% of its total GDP. As per the US Census Bureau, the market size of the US construction sector was around USD 1.79 trillion in 2022.
- According to the US Census Bureau, during the first nine months of 2023, construction spending amounted to USD 1,463.5 billion, 4.6% above the USD 1,398.9 billion for the same period in 2022.
- In Europe, manufacturers in the do-it-yourself (DIY) adhesives market have switched to clear packaging, where the opaque reinforcing aids additives used for rheology control and the reinforcements are replaced by fumed silica, which closely matches its refractive index with transparent polymers.
- Treated fumed silica provides significantly more adhesive strength than the coated precipitated calcium carbonates (PCC), usually used for rheology control of STP and polyurethane adhesives and sealants. Compounding the benefit of lower loading, fumed silica has a lower specific gravity than calcium carbonate and, thus, contributes far less to adhesive weight, which may be a benefit in applications where adhesive weight is a concern, e.g., automotive light-weighting.
- The automotive industry is one of the major consumers of adhesives and sealants. The applications include sealing heat exchanger tubes, gearbox and sump cover gasketing, bonding interior dashboards, and others. According to the OICA, global vehicle production reached 85.02 million units in 2022, with an increase of 6% from the previous year’s production of 80.20 million units.
- Therefore, such factors are expected to impact the fumed silica market significantly over the forecast period.
Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Market
- The Asia-Pacific region dominated the market with the largest share and high demand from countries such as China and India.
- The manufacture of silicone adhesives begins by isolating silica from silicon. Silica can be found in its pure form in some minerals. Silicone adhesives are widely used due to their excellent elastomeric properties, extended temperature range, resistance to the effects of fuels, and low shrinkage and shear stress.
- Countries in the Asia-Pacific region, such as China, India, and Vietnam, have been registering strong growth in construction activities, which is expected to drive the consumption of fumed silica in the region over the forecast period.
- China and India contribute to more than 50% of the total share of the Asia-Pacific region in the adhesives and sealants market. They are also the largest producer of paints and coatings in the Asia-Pacific region.
- In January 2023, Asian Paints approved an investment of INR 2,000 crore (USD 240.53 million) for a new waterborne paint manufacturing plant with 400,000 kiloliters per annum capacity in Madhya Pradesh, India. The facility’s manufacturing is expected to be commissioned in three years.
- In July 2022, BASF SE, through its subsidiary BASF Coatings (Guangdong) Co. Ltd (BCG), expanded its manufacturing capabilities for automotive refinish coatings at its coatings site in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, South China. The company increased its production capacity to 30,000 ton annually through this expansion project.
- The pharmaceutical industry in India is a major consumer of fumed silica, used as a high-purity excipient and multi-functional additive. The country is the largest provider of generic drugs globally, fulfilling 40% of the generic demand in the United States and 25% of all medicine demand in the United Kingdom.
- Fumed silica is used in many demanding adhesive applications, from building, construction, and automotive applications to packaging. High demand from the adhesives and sealants sector is expected to drive the fumed silica market.
- In the construction industry, fumed silica is used in adhesives, sealants, coatings, and plastics. China is experiencing massive growth in its construction sector. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the construction output value in China achieved its peak at around USD 4.64 trillion in 2022. It rose by 6% compared to USD 4.36 trillion in 2021.
- Adhesives, sealants, paints, and coatings are also finding application in the automotive industry. The Asia-Pacific automotive manufacturing industry is the largest in the world. According to the OICA, automotive production in Asia-Pacific stood at 50.02 million units in 2022, up 7% from 46.77 million units in 2021.
- The factors above are expected to increase the demand for fumed silica in the Asia-Pacific region over the forecast period.
Fumed Silica Industry Overview
The fumed silica market is mostly consolidated. The major players (not in any particular order) include Evonik Industries AG, Cabot Corporation, Wacker Chemie AG, Tokuyama Corporation, and OCI COMPANY Ltd, among others.
Fumed Silica Market Leaders
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Evonik Industries AG
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Cabot Corporation
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Wacker Chemie AG
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Tokuyama Corporation
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OCI COMPANY Ltd.
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Fumed Silica Market News
- June 2023: Nouryon introduced new high-efficiency Kromasil spherical silica for novel peptide-based pharmaceuticals.
- July 2022: Wacker Chemie AG built a new silicone production complex at its Charleston site in Tennessee, United States. It expanded its production capability of pyrogenic silica and other silicon intermediates for construction applications, boosting the company's presence in the fumed silica market.
- May 2022: Tokuyama Corporation expanded the capacity of its hydrophobic-grade fumed silica production line at its subsidiary Tokuyama Chemicals (Zhejiang) Co. Ltd. Hydrophobic-grade fumed silica is mainly used as a thickening agent in resin adhesives and printing inks.
Fumed Silica Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
- 1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET DYNAMICS
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4.1 Drivers
- 4.1.1 Surging Demand from Personal Care Applications in the Asia-Pacific Region
- 4.1.2 Increasing Demand from the Paints and Coatings Industry
- 4.1.3 Other Drivers
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4.2 Restraints
- 4.2.1 Precipitated Silica as a Substitute
- 4.2.2 Development of Biogenic Fumed Silica
- 4.3 Industry Value Chain Analysis
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4.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
- 4.4.3 Threat of New Entrants
- 4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products and Services
- 4.4.5 Degree of Competition
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION (Market Size in Volume)
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5.1 Type
- 5.1.1 Hydrophilic Fumed Silica
- 5.1.2 Hydrophobic Fumed Silica
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5.2 Application
- 5.2.1 Silicone Rubber
- 5.2.2 Plastics and Composites (Unsaturated Polyester Resin)
- 5.2.3 Food and Beverages
- 5.2.4 Paints and Coatings (Including Inks)
- 5.2.5 Adhesives and Sealants
- 5.2.6 Other Applications (Pharmaceutical, Personal Care, and Chemicals and Fertilizers)
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5.3 Geography
- 5.3.1 Asia-Pacific
- 5.3.1.1 China
- 5.3.1.2 India
- 5.3.1.3 Japan
- 5.3.1.4 South Korea
- 5.3.1.5 Rest of Asia-Pacific
- 5.3.2 North America
- 5.3.2.1 United States
- 5.3.2.2 Canada
- 5.3.2.3 Mexico
- 5.3.3 Europe
- 5.3.3.1 Germany
- 5.3.3.2 United Kingdom
- 5.3.3.3 France
- 5.3.3.4 Italy
- 5.3.3.5 Rest of Europe
- 5.3.4 South America
- 5.3.4.1 Brazil
- 5.3.4.2 Argentina
- 5.3.4.3 Rest of South America
- 5.3.5 Middle East and Africa
- 5.3.5.1 Saudi Arabia
- 5.3.5.2 South Africa
- 5.3.5.3 Rest of Middle East and Africa
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
- 6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements
- 6.2 Market Share (%)**/Ranking Analysis
- 6.3 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players
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6.4 Company Profiles
- 6.4.1 AMS Applied Material Solutions
- 6.4.2 Cabot Corporation
- 6.4.3 China-Henan Huamei Chemical Co. Ltd
- 6.4.4 Dongyue Group Co. Ltd
- 6.4.5 Evonik Industries AG
- 6.4.6 Gelest Inc.
- 6.4.7 Heraeus Holding
- 6.4.8 Kemitura AS
- 6.4.9 Kemipex
- 6.4.10 OCI Company Ltd
- 6.4.11 Tokuyama Corporation
- 6.4.12 Wacker Chemie AG
- *List Not Exhaustive
7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
- 7.1 Emerging Applications of Fumed Silica
- 7.2 New Technology for Sustainable Production of Fumed Silica
Fumed Silica Industry Segmentation
Fumed silica is manufactured through flame pyrolysis of silicon tetrachloride, where silicon tetrachloride reacts with oxygen on a high-temperature flame to produce silica. It is used as a universal thickening agent and an anticaking agent during the formulation of adhesives, paints, and coatings. Fumed silica can be used as an excipient in pharmaceutical products.
The fumed silica market is segmented by type, application, and geography. By type, the market is segmented into hydrophilic fumed silica and hydrophobic fumed silica. By application, the market is segmented into silicone rubber, plastics and composites, food and beverages, paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, and other applications (pharmaceuticals, personal care, and chemicals and fertilizers). The report also covers the market size and forecasts for the fumed silica market in 15 countries across the globe. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done on the basis of volume (ton).
| Type | Hydrophilic Fumed Silica | |
| Hydrophobic Fumed Silica | ||
| Application | Silicone Rubber | |
| Plastics and Composites (Unsaturated Polyester Resin) | ||
| Food and Beverages | ||
| Paints and Coatings (Including Inks) | ||
| Adhesives and Sealants | ||
| Other Applications (Pharmaceutical, Personal Care, and Chemicals and Fertilizers) | ||
| Geography | Asia-Pacific | China |
| India | ||
| Japan | ||
| South Korea | ||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | ||
| Geography | North America | United States |
| Canada | ||
| Mexico | ||
| Geography | Europe | Germany |
| United Kingdom | ||
| France | ||
| Italy | ||
| Rest of Europe | ||
| Geography | South America | Brazil |
| Argentina | ||
| Rest of South America | ||
| Geography | Middle East and Africa | Saudi Arabia |
| South Africa | ||
| Rest of Middle East and Africa |
Fumed Silica Market Research FAQs
How big is the Fumed Silica Market?
The Fumed Silica Market size is expected to reach 305.28 kilotons in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 4.83% to reach 386.47 kilotons by 2029.
What is the current Fumed Silica Market size?
In 2024, the Fumed Silica Market size is expected to reach 305.28 kilotons.
Who are the key players in Fumed Silica Market?
Evonik Industries AG, Cabot Corporation, Wacker Chemie AG, Tokuyama Corporation and OCI COMPANY Ltd. are the major companies operating in the Fumed Silica Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Fumed Silica Market?
Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2024-2029).
Which region has the biggest share in Fumed Silica Market?
In 2024, the Asia Pacific accounts for the largest market share in Fumed Silica Market.
What years does this Fumed Silica Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the Fumed Silica Market size was estimated at 290.53 kilotons. The report covers the Fumed Silica Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the Fumed Silica Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Fumed Silica Industry Report
Statistics for the 2024 Fumed Silica market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Fumed Silica analysis includes a market forecast outlook to 2029 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
