Precipitated silica, commonly known as white carbon black, hydrated silica, or light silica, is insoluble in water and most acids. It absorbs moisture in the air to form aggregated fine particles and dissolves in caustic soda and hydrofluoric acid. It remains stable against other chemicals, resists high temperatures without decomposition or combustion, and exhibits high electrical insulation, porosity, large internal surface area, hygroscopicity, and non-toxicity.
In China, the upstream of the precipitated silica industry chain includes raw materials such as quartz sand, soda ash, and sulfuric acid; the midstream involves the production of precipitated silica; and the downstream covers various application sectors. Precipitated silica is primarily used in rubber industries such as tires, footwear, and silicone rubber, as well as other industries like feed, coatings, and toothpaste. As a rubber reinforcing material, precipitated silica holds a critical position in the rubber industry, accounting for over 70% of total industry consumption.
The demand market analysis for precipitated silica is as follows:
1.Tires: the largest demand sector in China’s precipitated silica market
From a downstream perspective, China’s precipitated silica demand is concentrated in footwear, tires, veterinary drugs/feed, and other sectors. Tires represent the largest downstream demand area, consistently accounting for over 30% of total consumption, followed by footwear, which maintains a stable share of around 29%.
2.Green tire development drives growth in precipitated silica demand
In recent years, China’s tire industry has shown steady growth, with rubber tire production generally increasing. The stable development of the tire industry has significantly contributed to rising demand for precipitated silica. Meanwhile, as the national strategic goals “carbon peak” and “carbon neutrality” are being steadily implemented, the tire market is shifting toward low-carbon products, with green tires becoming a major development direction. Compared to conventional tires, green tires use higher-priced highly dispersible precipitated silica as a reinforcing additive, replacing 60%-90% of carbon black. In the future, as green tires gain popularity, the tire industry’s demand for highly dispersible precipitated silica will further expand, driving growth in the precipitated silica market. Highly dispersible precipitated silica is poised to become the primary development focus of China’s precipitated silica industry.
3.The footwear industry has strong resilience and will remain an important demand area in the future.
The footwear industry, closely tied to daily life, exhibits strong resilience and substantial demand for precipitated silica, ensuring its continued importance as a key downstream sector. Additionally, population growth and rising living standards will drive the footwear industry’s development, further boosting demand for precipitated silica.
In summary, after years of progress, China’s silica production technology has advanced significantly, with precipitated silica capacity and output showing an upward trend. To date, China ranks first globally in both production capacity and output of precipitated silica. The industry is gradually moving towards large-scale, large-sized and centralized development, with fewer enterprises and stabilized capacity. As manufacturing upgrades, the industry’s shift toward high-quality, high-performance, specialized, and diversified silica products is inevitable. Technology-driven enterprises will hold a competitive edge in the future.
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Post time: Apr-23-2025