China, Hungary, U.S. Lead Glass Plant Construction Spending

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Written by Eric Funderburk for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

Industrial Info Resources is tracking more than US$7 billion of ongoing construction at glass plants throughout the world, led by China.

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Multiple Projects, Multiple Markets

There are multitudes of end-uses for glass that allow this sector to maintain consistent, steady spending across multiple global locations. Used or everything from beverage containers to medical equipment to solar panels, glass is a part of our lives. Fiberglass is another big component of glass sector coverage. Industrial Info Resources data find more than 90 capital glass construction projects valued at US$7.2 billion presently underway across the world and another US$30 billion worth of capital projects in the planning and engineering stages, although not all of these will be built according to plan.

A Clear Leader

Looking at current glass plant construction, China exceeds other countries in regard to spending, followed by Hungary and the U.S. Most of China's spending comes from the country's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, where Industrial Info Resources is tracking three glass plant construction projects that are underway and valued at nearly US$620 million.

Two glass projects stand out in the region. One of these is Inner Mongolia Tianhao Glass Fiber Company Limited's Phase 3 expansion of its fiberglass manufacturing in the region's capital, Hohhot. Phase 3 construction, valued at more than US$336 million, kicked off late last year following completion of a prior expansion project, and will increase the facility's fiberglass production from 360,000 tons per year to 600,000 tons per year. The expansion is expected to be completed this autumn. Subscribers to the Industrial Info Resources Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Project Database can learn more by viewing the project report.

Elsewhere in Inner Mongolia, Inner Mongolia Yujing Technology Company Limited is putting the finishing touches on another expansion project, this one at a photovoltaic glass plant to supply solar power projects. The company is adding two 1,000-ton-per-day production lines in Ordos City that will boost annual production from 730,000 tons per year of photovoltaic glass to 1.46 million tons per year. Construction is expected to be completed this summer.

Hungary Projects

Hungary, as the world's second-place glass plant spender, is dominated by a project in Kapsovar, in the country's east-central region. There, Sisecam Group is wrapping up a grassroot glass packaging plant that includes two melting furnaces to facilitate the production of 330,000 tons per year of colored glass containers and special glass components. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the project report.

U.S. Projects

The U.S.' appearing as a top-three global glass spender requires a bit of explanation, as the country's leading on-the-ground glass project doesn't come at a traditional glass plant, but from a Superfund site in Benton County, Washington--actually three of four remaining Superfund sites related to the area's former nuclear weapons plant.

Glass is part of the solution to remediating the area. A vitrification process is transforming more than 53 million gallons of high-level radioactive waste into a safe glass product suitable for permanent disposal. The project appears to be working as the U.S. Department of Energy, which is heading up the remediation, is adding additional melters that combine the radioactive waste with glass flakes and heated to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit, then allowed to cool and harden into a more safely stored product. The new melters are expected to become active later this year, although the remediation project still has years left. A bit of a stretch, perhaps, but one of larger glass projects going on in the world.

Malaysia

Outside of the Superfund project, the U.S. would fall behind Malaysia. Photovoltaic glass is the name of the game in the Southeast Asian country, where the largest projects underway come from China's Zhuzhou Kibing Group Company Limited, which is constructing two 1,200-ton-per-day photovoltaic glass lines using the "float glass" process where molten glass is floated over a bed of liquid tin. The addition of the first line is expected to be completed early next year, followed by the second photovoltaic glass line about a year later.

Maintenance Coverage

In addition to US$37 billion worth of current and future capital glass plant projects, Industrial Info Resources also is tracking more than 260 planned maintenance events and programs occurring at glass plants throughout the world.

Key Takeaways

• Industrial Info Resources is tracking more than US$7 billion worth of ongoing construction at global glass plants.
• China leads the world for the both spending and the number of active glass plant projects.
• More than 260 maintenance events and programs are scheduled for global glass plants over the next few years.

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About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).