In many industrial branches, innovative silicone materials are used for diverse products. “The most important types of silicones are silicone elastomers, silicone oils, and silicone resins”, explains Oliver Kutsch, CEO of the market research institute Ceresana. “Application areas are construction, automotive, electrical and electronics, medical technology, cosmetics, textiles, and paper.” Ceresana analyzed the world market for silicones already for the third time: Global revenues amounted to over USD 16.3 billion in 2017. Ceresana expects the silicone market to increase further by 3.9% p.a. until 2025.

Diverse Silicone Applications

A decisive advantage for manufacturers of silicones is the variety of sales markets: Demand is distributed evenly among several large sectors. In the construction industry, for example, silicones are mainly used as sealants, adhesives, and in coatings. The electronic industry applies silicones mainly to protect electronic components from extreme heat, moisture, salt, corrosion, and contamination. Among others, computers, telephones, and LED lights contain silicones and the application areas are being gradually expanded. Silicone demand in the automotive segment will presumably register similarly high growth rates in the upcoming eight years as in the electrical and electronics industry. Innovative projects such as hybrid and electric vehicles or autonomous vehicles will support this growth. In 2017, however, the construction industry was the segment with the highest silicone consumption.

Different Types of Silicones

A large part of the global production and revenues of silicones is accounted for by silicone elastomers which are, for example, used in seals, electrical insulations or baking tins. A distinction is made between solid and liquid silicone rubber. In regard to silicone elastomers, the highest revenues are generated in the region Asia-Pacific. In Western Europe and North America, revenues generated with elastomers are slightly higher than revenues generated with silicone oils. Silicone resins that are for example used for paints and varnishes have so far been accounting for a much smaller market share in all regions, but are likely to develop at sound growth rates in the future.

Trends of the Silicones Industry

The region Asia-Pacific is, by far, the major producer of silicones worldwide. Ceresana expects the production in this region to continue to grow. Western Europe accounts for the second highest production figures, followed by North America. Asia-Pacific, China in particular, is also the largest consumer of silicones. The gap to the second and third largest sales markets, Western Europe and North America, is likely to continue to widen in the future. Yet, established industrialized countries report a higher market value compared to silicone demand, as China tends to consume cheaper products instead of high-end specialty silicones.

The Study in Brief:

Chapter 1 provides a description and analysis of the global silicones market, including forecasts up to 2025: demand (in tonnes), revenues per product type, total revenues, and production volume are explained for each region of the world. This chapter also includes a concise and precise summary of the most important facts regarding production and characteristics of silicones and individual product types.
Chapter 2 contains a detailed analysis of total demand, revenues generated with silicones as well as market value in construction, E&E, automotive, health care and cosmetics as well as in other applications for 15 countries.
Chapter 3 offers a well-grounded analysis of various applications of silicones: Data on demand and sales development, split by the world regions Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East/ Africa are given.
Chapter 4 provides company profiles of the largest silicone manufacturers – clearly arranged according to contact details, revenues, profit, product range, production sites, and profile summary. Extensive profiles of 58 producers are given.
Further information: www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/plastics/silicones/


About Ceresana
Ceresana is a leading international market research institute for the segments chemicals, plastics, industrial goods, and packaging. The company has been providing more than 10,000 customers from trade and industry in 60 countries with up-to-date analyses for over 15 years. The services of Ceresana for manufacturers, processors, and associations include customized single-client studies and more than 160 multi-client market studies. Learn more about Ceresana at www.ceresana.com/en