Industry Analysis & Industry Trends
Domestic glass manufacturers will continue to feel the pressure from substitute products replacing glass in many functions, particularly for food packaging. Furthermore, despite economic recovery, demand for glass used in automobiles will be limited by strong import competition in the next five years. On the bright side, a rebound in the residential housing market will boost demand for glass products used in windows, doors and furniture... purchase to read more
Industry Report - Industry Locations Chapter
The geographic distribution of this industry correlates to the concentration of demand from downstream markets, notably building and construction activity, automotive manufacturing, and food preparation and beverage manufacturing. Large-scale plant location is determined by balancing the high costs of transportation against the economies of scale in production.
The cost of transporting glass products has traditionally been relatively high to the value of the load as the fragile nature of the glass results in a high level of breakages, which adds to the transportation costs. Advances in distribution technology over the past decade have limited the level of damage in glass transportation thereby enabling lower cost delivery (particularly in the flat glass market)... purchase to read more