The Ultra-thin Glass Market is Segmented By Thickness (<0.1mm, <0.1mm, 0.5mm-1.0mm), By Manufacturing Process (Float, Fusion, Down-Draw), By Application (Flat Panel Displays, Semiconductors, Fingerprint Sensor, Automotive Glazing, Others), By End-User (Consumer Electronics, Automotive & Transportation, Medical & Healthcare, Others), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031.
Ultra-thin Glass Market Overview
Ultra-Thin glass market is estimated to reach at a CAGR of 11.2% during the forecast period (2024-2031).
Glass having a thickness of a few micrometers is called ultra-thin glass. One of the high-end glasses is ultra-thin glass, thinner than a single human hair strand. Thin glass has advantages over other materials such as metals, plastics, and silicon because of its smaller size. A few benefits are superior optical quality, chemical consistency, thermal stability, and mechanical resilience.
According to the substrate's qualities, it has plastic-like characteristics. It is a popular choice in smart gadgets due to its great elasticity, flexibility, and scratch resistance. LCD and OLED displays, TVs, touchscreen touch modules, solar panels, semiconductors, and other consumer electronic items require ultra-thin glass.
The ultra-thin glasses come in various sizes, from micrometers to millimeters. Because of its size, the glass is perfect for carrying gadgets like tablets, computers, cameras, and security cameras. Electrochromic windows and mirrors, LEDs, and sophisticated packaging are just a few of the applications for these glasses.
Fusion and float procedures are the most commonly utilized ultra-thin glass manufacturing processes. Thermal stability, surface flatness, weather resistance, flexibility, lightweight, and exceptional optical quality are among the qualities of ultra-thin glass that make it useful in various sectors.
Ultra-thin Glass Market Scope
|
Metrics |
Details |
|
Market CAGR |
11.2% |
|
Segments Covered |
By Thickness, By Manufacturing Process, By Application, By End-User, and By Region |
|
Report Insights Covered |
Competitive Landscape Analysis, Company Profile Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Demand, Recent Developments, Mergers and acquisitions, New Product Launches, Growth Strategies, Revenue Analysis, and Other key insights. |
|
Fastest Growing Region |
Asia Pacific |
|
Largest Market Share |
North America |
To know more insights into the Market, Get Our Sample Brochure
Ultra-thin Glass Market Dynamics
The extensive demand for ultra-thin glass in the electronic industry boosts the product's market share.
The extensive demand for ultra-thin glass in the electronic industry boosts the product's market share
Ultra-thin glass offers various qualities such as abrasion and corrosion resistance, flexibility, gas barrier capabilities, surface smoothness, and transparency, which allows the product to play a significant role in the electronics sector. Because of these qualities can also be used in touch and display panels, electronic and optical sensors, energy storage devices, semiconductors, and organic electronics like oxygen and moisture barriers.
Flat display panels are expected to increase as demand for electronic devices such as LCDs, LEDs, OLEDs, smartphones, monitors, and laptops grow. In July 2018, Xiaomi unveiled the Hongmi Note 5 in Seoul, South Korea, which features a tempered ultra-thin glass thickness of 0.3 mm. The company's presence in South Korea has grown due to this launch. The expanding production of smartphones and the increasing display sizes of other electronic devices are expected to continue to be crucial for flat-panel displays.
Furthermore, these glasses are suited for Personal Computers (PCs), e-readers, cellphones, and other electronic devices because of their lightweight, perfect flatness, flexibility, and good surface quality. Thus increasing demand for the above-mentioned electronic gadgets is expected to create huge opportunities for ultra-thin glass to grow in the forecast period.
For instance, in 2019, desktop PCs, laptops, and tablets sold 88.4 million, 166 million, and 136.8 million units, respectively. In 2020, 1.560 billion smartphones were sold to end consumers worldwide. With the rising demand for electronics, production and sales of these products are likely to rise even more in the forecast period.
Smartwatches, like smartphones, are growing in popularity and gaining market share in the wearables business. Apple, Fitbit, Samsung, and Garmin shipped 22.5 million units, 5.5 million units, 5.3 million units, and 3.2 million smartwatches in 2018. As a result, greater smartphone and smart watches manufacturing are expected to boost the ultra-thin glass industry's growth.
For instance, in October 2016, SCHOTT AG developed and launched an ultra-thin, high-strength, protective glass SCHOTT AS 87 Eco for consumer electronics, such as smartphones and wearable devices. With the arrival of this product, the company became the only manufacturer of chemically toughened ultra-thin and environment-friendly glass. The company's market position in the ultra-thin glass industry will be strengthened due to this breakthrough.
The high cost of ultra-thin glass is the primary hurdle to the growth of the market
Raw material price fluctuations are a major challenge for industry stakeholders worldwide. The primary reason behind price fluctuations is the high cost of raw materials as a percentage of the total cost.
The raw materials cost accounts for approximately 52% of the total cost of manufacturing processes. Any variation in raw material prices will impact production costs, impacting the product's selling price.
COVID-19 Impact on Ultra-thin Glass Market Growth
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the growth of the chemicals and materials and the ultra-thin glass market. The introduction of measures to control the spread of the new coronavirus has exacerbated the problem and harmed various industries' growth.
The rapid distortion in operational efficiencies and interruptions in value chains caused by the unexpected closure of national and international borders have hurt industries such as automotive and consumer electronics. The slowing expansion of various sectors significantly influenced the global market for ultra-thin glass.
However, the demand for ultra-thin glass will likely rise significantly in the forecast period as economies attempt to revitalize their operations. The adoption of remote work culture and online education is increasing due to the pandemic.
As a result, the demand for computers, smartphones, and other telecommunication devices is increasing. Thus increasing remote work culture is expected to regain the market growth momentum for the ultra-thin glass market in the forecast period.
Ultra-thin Glass Market Segment Analysis
The global ultra-thin glass market is segmented based on thickness, manufacturing process, application, end-user, and region.
The flat panel displays application segment holds a dominating market share due to growing demand for consumer electronics such as LEDs and LCDs across the globe
The global ultra-thin glass market is segmented on application into flat panel displays, semiconductors, fingerprint sensors, automotive glazing, and others. Out of the mentioned applications, flat panel displays hold a significant market share in the global ultra-thin glass market. In 2020, flat panel displays were the most popular sector, accounting for xx % of volume. The growing demand for electronics such as LEDs and LCDs is driving this industry.
TV panel producers are putting money into large-screen TVs. BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., a Chinese electronic components manufacturer, upgraded its Gen 10.5 TFT-LCD production line in Hefei, Anhui province, China, in December 2017. As a result, product usage is expected to increase in the next years. For instance, Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. offers NSG UFF™ (Ultra Fine Flat Glass). The product is an ultra-thin glass used in displays for LCD digital displays. The product helps communication devices like smartphones, PCs, and tablets use less electricity. NSG UFFTM eliminates the need for extra peripherals like keyboards and pointers.
However, Ultra-thin glass is also utilized in semiconductor chip packaging and interposer applications because it runs at high frequencies and is highly transparent, resulting in improved performance. The demand for integrated chips in various industrial applications such as networking devices, LED lighting and sensors in transportation, photovoltaic (PV) inverters, smart meters, and human-machine interface systems are driving the segment's growth.
Ultra-thin Glass Market Geographical Share
Asia-Pacific accounts for the largest share of the ultra-thin glass market; the growth is due to the growing economies of China and Japan, the presence of prominent players, and expanding consumer electronics industry
In 2020, Asia-Pacific was the largest regional segment, accounting for xx % of volume. The increase is credited with the increase in demand for flat panel displays, particularly in China, India, and South Korea. China is home to about half of the world's flat panel display manufacturing factories, followed by South Korea. To accommodate the increased demand from clients, large LED and LED manufacturing companies are expanding into these countries.
Furthermore, the growing demand for ultra-thin glass in the automotive sector adds value to the market's growth in the region. As the world's largest producer of automobiles, China has a high need for ultra-thin glass in various automotive interior panels. Furthermore, significant players such as AGC Inc. and Nippon Sheet Glass are projected to fuel market expansion.
For instance, Corning Incorporated launched a new LCD glass substrate manufacturing facility in the Chinese province of Anhui in May 2018. Corning's EAGLE XG® Slim glass is used to fabricate TFT-grade Gen 10.5 substrates at this plant. Launching the new manufacturing facility is expected to boost the region's market growth.
In addition, North America’s ultra-thin glass market was dominated by the U.S. in 2020, owing to the large semiconductor industry. In 2018, the country accounted for roughly 45% of the worldwide semiconductor market share, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).
The SIA's eight-point policy plan, which covers research, trade, tax, export control, workforce, environment, health and safety, anti-counterfeiting, and intellectual property, was designed to boost U.S. economic growth and innovation while also strengthening the semiconductor industry, which is expected to boost the market growth in the coming years.
Ultra-thin Glass Market Companies and Competitive Landscape
The global ultra-thin glass market is highly competitive with local and global companies. Some prime companies contributing to the market's growth are Corning, Asahi Glass, Nippon Sheet Glass, CSG Holding, Nippon Electric Glass, SCHOTT AG, Central Glass Co., Ltd., Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited, Changzhou Almaden Co., Ltd and others.
The major companies are adopting several growth strategies such as acquisitions, product launches, and collaborations, contributing to the global growth of the ultra-thin glass market.
- In 2022, Samsung was working to bring its next foldable smartphone — Galaxy Z Fold4 and according to reports, the company has claimed to introduce the harder type of Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) in the upcoming foldable phone.
Asahi Glass
Overview: AIS or Asahi India Glass Limited is an Indian glass solution and manufacturing company. It was founded in 1984. The company manufactures automotive safety glass, float glass, architectural processed glass, and glass goods. As of 2017, AIS had a market share of 77.1 % in the Indian passenger car glass segment. As of 2017, AIS had a 20% market share in India's architectural glass industry.
Product Portfolio: SPOOL: SPOOL ultra-thin sheet glass is ultra-thin, lightweight, and flexible, with high transparency, heat resistance, chemical resistance, gas barrier qualities, and electrical insulation, all of which are unique to glass materials. SPOOL offers much potential in cutting-edge applications, including flexible displays, organic EL lighting, and touch screens because of these benefits.
Key Development
- For instance, in 2018, Asahi Glass developed an ultra-thin chemically strengthened 0.07 mm flexible glass with bending stress of over 1200 MPa, making it possible to use this as a cover glass for foldable devices with a curvature radius of 2.5 mm or even lower.