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Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2029)

John Griffin John Griffin London, United Kingdom Last Updated: June 2025 SIC UK-C231

Revenue

£77.5bn

2025-26

£79.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

520k

Businesses

21,410

Wages

£XX.Xbn

Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing in the UK industry analysis

Flat glass and glass products are key materials throughout downstream industrial and construction markets, with glass bottles and containers also widely used by food and beverage manufacturers. Glassmakers across Europe rely on activity in these downstream markets, with high fixed costs associated with glass production dictating that small changes in output can substantially impact profitability.

Trends and Insights

  • Energy price rises spur panic throughout the supply chain. Extraordinary increases in the price of natural gas spurred significant price hikes among glassmakers.
  • Trends in retail drive demand for glassmakers. Food and beverage manufacturers are the largest downstream market for glass product manufacturers, so trends in private consumption dictate output.
  • The degree of concentration varies depending on the type of operation. Flat glass manufacturing operations are highly concentrated, while glass product manufacturing operations are more fragmented due to the variety of products manufactured.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is £77.5bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 21,410 businesses in the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include?

Flat Glass and Processed Glass are part of the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Table of Contents

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

Glass manufacturing is highly regulated. Glassmakers are subject to strict regulations relating to production safety standards, environmental regulations and building regulations.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Soaring energy costs have posed a major threat to bottom lines. Huge increases in wholesale energy prices have placed significant pressure on glassmakers, with many forced to hike prices to maintain output.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing in the UK industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and bottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2025)
  • Business Growth (2025)
  • Job Growth (2025)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2025)
  • Imports/Demand (2025)
  • Exports/Revenue (2025)
  • Revenue per Employee (2025)
  • Wages/Revenue (2025)
  • Employees per Establishment (2025)
  • Average Wage (2025)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights. 

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