The global precipitated silica is expected to witness significant growth due to increasing use in oral care, and packaging applications. In addition, properties such as abrasion resistance and high tensile strength are have led to increasing use of precipitated silica in the rubber industry. Furthermore, the demand for the product will also be driven by its growing use in tires due to its ability to decrease tire rolling resistance and increase the grip of the tire. The use of this product in rubber silicon components that are used in rubber belts, oil seals, and rice rollers is expected to drive the demand over the next seven years.
The use of precipitated silica in toothpaste on account of its teeth whitening and cleaning properties and its use in thickeners and mild abrasive cleaners is expected to increase the demand for this product over the forecast period. Rubber application accounted for the highest revenue share among other applications in 2014. This trend is expected to continue over the forecast period due to increasing application scope of the product in the rubber industry.
The product is extensively used in manufacturing conveyor belts, PVC sheets, transmission belts, rice rollers, thermoplastic rubbers, and silicon tubes, which is expected to result in increasing demand for precipitated silica over the projected period. Furthermore, growing use of the aforementioned product in tire industry owing to benefits such as decreased rolling resistance and optimized fuel consumption is expected to drive the demand over the forecast period.
Growing use of precipitated silica in the rubber/tire industry on account of its properties, such as abrasion resistance, flex fatigue properties, and high tensile strength, is expected to drive market demand over the forecast period. Precipitated silica also has profound usage in personal care and cosmetic products on account of its oil & sweat absorption property which provides smooth and silky texture to the skin.
Agrochemical application is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. This increase can be attributed to the increasing use of the product as carriers for free flowing and anti-caking agents due to its improved chemical stability and increased absorption ability. Furthermore, this product can also act as grinding aid and suspension for water dispersible granules, and wettable powders, and as a result finds an increasing demand for agrochemical application.
The growth will be driven by the increasing use of the product in toothpaste formulations. The increasing use of dental silica as thickeners coupled with use in as a cleaning agent for various dentifrice products is expected to drive the growth of the product over the next seven years.
Food industry application segment is expected to witness significant growth owing to increasing use as an anti-caking and thickening agent in food processing industry. In addition, use of precipitated silica as absorbent and food rheology modifier is expected to drive the growth of the market over the forecast period.
Rice husk technology is preferred on account of its environment-friendly as well as low-cost property. This technology provides a healthy environment for cooking applications, helps in proper disposal of waste, and improves the economic lifestyle of rural households.
The growth in North America is expected to be fueled by increasing demand from the rubber and food processing industry. Increasing expenditure on the research and development activities by silica manufacturing companies in North America is expected to result in the growth of the market over the forecast period.
Asia Pacific accounted for over 40.0% of the market share of the global precipitated silica market in 2014. Rapid industrialization and presence of small and medium scale food processing industries in Asia Pacific is expected to propel growth. In addition, positive government policies promoting manufacturing industries in the region is likely to have a positive impact on market growth.
The development of food processing industry and agrochemical industry in countries such as India and China will drive the growth of the precipitated silica market. Increasing demand for rubber products from industrial and commercial segments is expected to augment the demand for precipitated silica in the region.
Companies such as W.R. Grace & Co emphasize on technology and produce technologically advanced products such as Perkasil, which is used as reinforcement fillers in tires. Key players of the market include Anten Chemical, PPG Industries, Inc., Huber Engineered Materials, Evonik Industries AG, Solvay S.A., Oriental Silicas Corporation, IQE Group, Madhu Silica Pvt. Ltd., Kadvani Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., PQ Corporation, and Tosoh Silica Corporation.
