- ›
Glass manufacturing processes
There are two main methods of producing glass. The first is the float glass process that is used to manufacture architectural glass, and the second is the glassblowing process that produces containers such as bottles and jars. The float glass process, also known as the Pilkington process, was developed by Sir Pilkington in 1952, and involves feeding a ribbon of molten glass from a furnace onto a bath of molten tin. This process produces a sheet of glass with a uniform thickness and a very smooth surface, which can be used to make windows and any other applications requiring flat sheets of glass. China is by far the largest exporter of float glass, accounting for a 13 percent share of the global export value in 2021.
The glassblowing technique was first used around the first century BCE, and deals with the inflation of molten glass into a bubble by using a blowpipe. Throughout time, this process was further developed into two main techniques: mold blowing and free blowing. In 2023 the production volume of glass bottles and containers amounted to an estimated 743 billion units worldwide. Due to the extremely high temperatures required to produce glass, glass manufacturing overall has a high carbon footprint. In 2022, the global carbon dioxide emissions from glass manufacturing amounted to 95 million metric tons.
Glass industry growth
The glass industry is continuously growing. The global market value of glass bottles and containers is forecast to grow to 96.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2029, while the market volume is forecast to grow to over 916 billion units by the following year. As an infinitely recyclable, reusable, and more sustainable alternative to plastic packaging, glass is regaining some of its popularity in the packaging world, especially as many countries have placed bans and limitations on plastic packaging in recent years. Indeed, the market value of the glass packaging industry worldwide is expected to grow from 55.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 to 88.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2032.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
M. Garside Research lead covering energy, chemicals & resources Get in touch with us now
Key insights
Detailed statistics
Global flat glass market value 2020-2030
Detailed statistics
Global glass companies ranking based on revenue 2022
Detailed statistics
Global flat glass price 2012-2032, by market segment
Get more insights
Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic
Current statistics on this topic
Related topics
Recommended
3
- Construction materials industry in the U.S.
- Rubber industry worldwide
- Ceramics industry worldwide
Recommended statistics
Overview
7
- Premium Statistic Global flat glass market value 2020-2030
- Premium Statistic Global flat glass market selected figures 2017-2027
- Premium Statistic Glass containers and bottles global production volume 2020-2028
- Premium Statistic Glass production raw material distribution
- Premium Statistic Global flat glass price 2012-2032, by market segment
- Premium Statistic Global flat glass demand volume 2003-2022
- Basic Statistic Glass manufacturing carbon dioxide emissions worldwide and in Europe 2022
Overview
- Premium Statistic Global flat glass market value 2020-2030
Global flat glass market value 2020-2030
Market value of flat glass worldwide from 2020 to 2022, with a forecast for 2030 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Global flat glass market selected figures 2017-2027
Global flat glass market selected figures 2017-2027
Selected figures about the global flat glass market from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast for 2027
- Premium Statistic Glass containers and bottles global production volume 2020-2028
Glass containers and bottles global production volume 2020-2028
Production volume of glass containers and bottles worldwide in 2020 and 2023, with a forecast for 2028 (in billion units)
- Premium Statistic Glass production raw material distribution
Glass production raw material distribution
Distribution of raw materials used to produce glass
- Premium Statistic Global flat glass price 2012-2032, by market segment
Global flat glass price 2012-2032, by market segment
Pricing for fabricated flat glass worldwide from 2012 to 2022, with a forecast for 2027 and 2032, by market segment (in in U.S. dollars per square meter)
- Premium Statistic Global flat glass demand volume 2003-2022
Global flat glass demand volume 2003-2022
Demand for fabricated flat glass worldwide from 2003 to 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Basic Statistic Glass manufacturing carbon dioxide emissions worldwide and in Europe 2022
Glass manufacturing carbon dioxide emissions worldwide and in Europe 2022
Emissions from glass production worldwide and in Europe in 2022 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)
Trade
4
- Premium Statistic Global leading glass and glassware exporting countries 2022, based on value
- Premium Statistic Leading glassware and glass importing countries worldwide 2021, based on value
- Premium Statistic Distribution of global glassware and glass imports 2021, by leading country
Trade
- Premium Statistic Global leading glass and glassware exporting countries 2022, based on value
Global leading glass and glassware exporting countries 2022, based on value
Leading glass and glassware exporting countries worldwide in 2022 based on value (in billion U.S. dollars)
Global distribution of glass & glassware exports 2022, by leading country
Distribution of glass and glassware exports worldwide in 2022, by leading country
- Premium Statistic Leading glassware and glass importing countries worldwide 2021, based on value
Leading glassware and glass importing countries worldwide 2021, based on value
Leading glass and glassware importing countries worldwide in 2021, based on value (in million U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Distribution of global glassware and glass imports 2021, by leading country
Distribution of global glassware and glass imports 2021, by leading country
Distribution of glass and glassware imports worldwide in 2021, by leading country
Companies
4
- Premium Statistic Global glass companies ranking based on revenue 2022
- Premium Statistic Saint-Gobain revenue worldwide 2001-2022
- Premium Statistic PPG Industries' revenue 2010-2023
- Basic Statistic AGC's sales by segment FY 2022
Companies
- Premium Statistic Global glass companies ranking based on revenue 2022
Global glass companies ranking based on revenue 2022
Leading glass manufacturers worldwide based on revenue in 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Saint-Gobain revenue worldwide 2001-2022
Saint-Gobain revenue worldwide 2001-2022
Saint-Gobain S.A.'s global sales worldwide from 2001 to 2022 (in billion euros)
- Premium Statistic PPG Industries' revenue 2010-2023
PPG Industries' revenue 2010-2023
PPG Industries' revenue from 2010 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Basic Statistic AGC's sales by segment FY 2022
AGC's sales by segment FY 2022
Net sales of AGC Inc by segment from FY 2022 (in billion yen)
Segments
5
- Basic Statistic Global market value of advanced glass 2019-2030
- Premium Statistic Glass containers and bottles global market value 2022-2029
- Premium Statistic Global market value of glass packaging 2020-2032
- Premium Statistic Global market value of high-strength glass 2020-2025
- Premium Statistic Global automotive glass market value 2019-2027
Segments
- Basic Statistic Global market value of advanced glass 2019-2030
Global market value of advanced glass 2019-2030
Market value of advanced glass worldwide in 2019 and 2021, with a forecast for 2030 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Glass containers and bottles global market value 2022-2029
Glass containers and bottles global market value 2022-2029
Market value of glass containers and bottles worldwide in 2022 with a forecast for 2029 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Global market value of glass packaging 2020-2032
Global market value of glass packaging 2020-2032
Market value of glass packaging worldwide in 2020 and 2022, with a forecast for 2032 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Global market value of high-strength glass 2020-2025
Global market value of high-strength glass 2020-2025
Market value of high-strength glass worldwide in 2020, with a forecast for 2025 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Global automotive glass market value 2019-2027
Global automotive glass market value 2019-2027
Market value of automotive glass worldwide in 2019 and 2020, with a forecast for 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)
U.S. market
4
- Basic Statistic Architectural flat glass market value in North America 2018-2028
- Premium Statistic Producer price growth rate of flat glass manufacturing in the U.S. 2000-2022
- Premium Statistic U.S. glass product manufacturing industry selected figures 2018-2023
- Premium Statistic Number of employees at selected top U.S. glazier companies 2021
U.S. market
- Basic Statistic Architectural flat glass market value in North America 2018-2028
Architectural flat glass market value in North America 2018-2028
Market value of architectural flat glass in North America in 2018 and 2021, with a forecast for 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Producer price growth rate of flat glass manufacturing in the U.S. 2000-2022
Producer price growth rate of flat glass manufacturing in the U.S. 2000-2022
Annual producer price growth rate of flat glass manufacturing in the United States from 2000 to 2022
- Premium Statistic U.S. glass product manufacturing industry selected figures 2018-2023
U.S. glass product manufacturing industry selected figures 2018-2023
Selected figures on the United States glass product manufacturing industry from 2018 to 2023
- Premium Statistic Number of employees at selected top U.S. glazier companies 2021
Number of employees at selected top U.S. glazier companies 2021
Number of employees at selected leading glazier companies in the United States as of 2021
EU market
6
- Basic Statistic EU total glass production 2010-2022
- Premium Statistic Glass production in the European Union 2022, by type
- Premium Statistic Share of EU flat glass production in 2020, by country
- Basic Statistic Glass consumption in the EU 2019-2022
- Premium Statistic Glass consumption in the EU 2022, by type
- Premium Statistic Glass exports from the European Union 2022, by type
EU market
- Basic Statistic EU total glass production 2010-2022
EU total glass production 2010-2022
Production volume of glass in the European Union from 2010 to 2022 (in million metric tons)
- Premium Statistic Glass production in the European Union 2022, by type
Glass production in the European Union 2022, by type
Production of glass in the European Union in 2022, by type (in million metric tons)
- Premium Statistic Share of EU flat glass production in 2020, by country
Share of EU flat glass production in 2020, by country
Distribution of flat glass production in the European Union as of 2020, by country
- Basic Statistic Glass consumption in the EU 2019-2022
Glass consumption in the EU 2019-2022
Consumption volume of glass in the European Union from 2019 to 2022 (in million metric tons)
- Premium Statistic Glass consumption in the EU 2022, by type
Glass consumption in the EU 2022, by type
Consumption of glass in the European Union in 2022, by type (in million metric tons)*
- Premium Statistic Glass exports from the European Union 2022, by type
Glass exports from the European Union 2022, by type
Exports of glass from the European Union in 2022, by type (in metric tons)
Contact
Get in touch with us. We are happy to help.
Meredith Alda
Sales Manager– Contact (United States)
support@statista.com
Tel
+1 914 619-5895
Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)
Yolanda Mega
Operations Manager– Contact (Asia)
asia.support@statista.com
Tel
+65 6995 6959
Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)
Kisara Mizuno
Senior Business Development Manager– Contact (Asia)
asia.support@statista.com
Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)
Lodovica Biagi
Director of Operations– Contact (Europe)
eu.support@statista.com
Tel
+44 (0)20 8189 7000
Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)
Carolina Dulin
Group Director - LATAM– Contact (Latin America)
latam@statista.com
Tel
+1 212 419-5774
Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)
Yes, let me download!
...and make my research life easier.
