Silica Gel Market

Global Silica Gel Market Snapshot

According to research conducted by Persistence Market Research, the Global Silica Gel Market is projected to grow steadily across regions, expanding at approximately 3.6% CAGR over the 2023 to 2033 forecast period. Increasing consumption of pharmaceutical drugs as well as nutritional products in developed and emerging countries is leading to increasing demand for better and safe transportation of products from various industries like Food & Beverages, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, etc. which is expected to turn out as a driving factor for the global silica gel market.

Silica gel is a type of absorbent material that is composed of silica dioxide. It is a granular form of silicon dioxide (silica), which is a naturally occurring mineral. Silica gel is a highly porous material with a large surface area that can absorb moisture, liquids, and gases. It is often used as a desiccant to keep products dry and free from moisture, which can help to extend their shelf life and prevent damage.

Silica gel is used as a soil amendment to improve soil structure and water-holding capacity in Agriculture Industry. It is also utilized in Personal care products as a bulking agent in cosmetics and personal care products. Silica gel is commonly used in packaging to protect products that are sensitive to moisture, such as electronics, food, and pharmaceuticals. It is utilized for the preservation of goods by absorbing moisture, it helps to preserve products and extend their shelf life. It can help from Protection against mold and mildew by absorbing excess moisture which can cause damage and deterioration of products. Silica gel is easy to use and does not have any toxic or hazardous properties, making it a safe and convenient option for many applications owing to which it can be regenerated and reused, making it an economical choice for moisture control.

Market Outlook for Silica Gel Market  (2018 to 22) as Compared to Market Forecast (2023 to 33)

The sales of Silica Gel increased between 2018 and 2023. This rapid spike in sales was driven by the increasing demand for silica gel from the packaging and pharmaceutical industry. Due to the pandemic, there was a sudden increase in demand for silica gel, which is used as a moisture absorbent to maintain the quality and shelf life of various products. This was primarily due to the increased demand for packaged food, medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals, which all require silica gel to maintain their quality. The supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic led to a shortage of silica gel, which resulted in price increases and made it difficult for manufacturers to secure enough supply to meet demand. Owing to this led to a slowdown in production in some industries and created challenges for businesses that rely on silica gel. Despite these challenges, the silica gel market is expected to continue growing in the coming years, driven by increasing demand from numerous industries.

Insights revealed by research on the Silica Gel Market portray substantial gains, with the market expanding at around 3.6% CAGR from 2023 to 2033. This growth is driven by the factors such as the thriving demand from the numerous application sectors such as silica gel used as a desiccant to absorb moisture and keep products dry, especially in the packaging of food, electronics, and other moisture-sensitive items, It is also used in air purifiers and dehumidifiers to remove moisture and control humidity levels. In Chromatography, It is used as a stationary phase in column chromatography to separate and purify chemicals and biological compounds. The usage of silica gel in column chromatography for research activities linked to pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals has improved during the past few years also process chromatography and preparative chromatography are expected to create ample space for the market to grow during the forecast period.

Market Dynamics

Thriving demand from the paints and Coating Industry to flourish the market for Silica Gel

Silica gel is used as a desiccant in the paints and coating industry to absorb moisture and prevent the formation of bubbles in the paint. This is particularly important during storage, transportation, and application of the paint as exposure to moisture can lead to degradation of the paint quality. The use of silica gel helps to maintain the consistency and uniformity of the paint, leading to a smooth and even application.

Owing to its moisture-absorbing properties, it can also improve the mechanical properties of paint and coatings, such as their hardness and durability. It can also improve the overall durability and life of the paint film by preventing the growth of mold and mildew. Silica gel is typically added to paint formulations in small amounts, usually less than 5% by weight, to avoid any adverse effects on the paint's performance. The amount of silica gel used may vary based on the specific formulation of the paint, the intended use, and the desired properties.

Significant market traction for use in Chromatography technique to create ample space for Silica Gel.

Silica gel is a commonly used stationary phase in chromatography, a laboratory technique used to separate and purify mixtures of compounds. In chromatography, the stationary phase is a solid or liquid that is immobilized in a column, and the mixture to be separated is passed through the column in a mobile phase, which can be a liquid or a gas. The different components in the mixture interact differently with the stationary phase, and therefore travel through the column at different speeds, allowing them to be separated based on their physical and chemical properties.

Silica gel is a highly porous form of silica that has a large surface area and a neutral surface charge. These properties make it a useful stationary phase for various types of chromatography, such as column chromatography, thin layer chromatography (TLC), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In these applications, silica gel can effectively retain and separate a wide range of compounds, including polar and non-polar compounds, based on their interactions with the silica surface. Silica gel is relatively stable and can be used repeatedly, making it a cost-effective and convenient choice for many chromatography applications.

Stringent environmental regulations and the Menacing Effects of Cobalt Chloride, Mainly Used in the Manufacture of Blue Silica Gel Constrain the growth

Blue indicating silica gel is made of cobalt chloride and is available in the form of beads. It is injurious to human health and the environment. Blue Silica gel is most commonly used as a desiccant, owing to which it is harmful to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. It causes itching, blistering, irritation, corrosion, coughing, and choking and can damage tissues and membranes in severe cases, it can even cause death. These harmful effects act as a major restraint and dampen market growth.

According to some environmental regulations by the U.S. Government, only orange indicating silica gel is considered a safe material. Blue indicates silica gel is harmful as it contains cobalt chloride in high concentration. Orange indicating silica gel is the only indicating silica gel, which is approved for use and shipping across the globe. Such regulations governing the usage of indicating silica gel are restraining the growth of the silica gel market. The high cost of indicating silica gel and the comparatively low cost of alternatives, such as molecular sieves and clay desiccants are other reasons hampering the growth of the market.

Country-wise Insights

How does China is contributing to the growth of the Silica Gel Market?

China accounts for a significant market share in Global Silica Gel Market. Almost 15.4% of the Silica Gel produced across the globe is consumed by china owing to rigorous regulations put in place by developed nations like the United States. The demand for silica gel in China is high and has been steadily increasing in recent years. China is a major producer and consumer of silica gel, which is widely used in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, food packaging, electronics, and chemical manufacturing.

The growing demand for silica gel in China is due to its properties such as high absorbency, high thermal stability, and low toxicity, which make it suitable for a variety of applications. The increasing demand for consumer goods and the rise of the middle-class population in China are also driving the demand for silica gel in the country. The rapid growth of industries such as electronics, food packaging, and chemical manufacturing is expected to further boost the demand for silica gel in China in the coming years.

What is the market scenario of Silica Gel in the United States market?

The United States dominates the market with an impeccable market share of 16.9% by value in the market. Silica gel is widely used in numerous industries and applications, including pharmaceutical packaging, electronic devices, and personal care products. The demand for silica gel is likely to remain strong in the United States market due to its properties of absorbency and ability to control moisture levels. The trend towards natural and eco-friendly products has led to an increase in demand for silica gel products that are free of toxic chemicals and can be safely disposed of. This is likely to continue to drive the growth of the silica gel market in the United States.

The rise of e-commerce and the increasing demand for packaged products is likely to lead to an increase in the use of silica gel for moisture control in packaging, which will further drive market growth. Overall, the outlook for the silica gel market in the United States is positive and is expected to grow in the coming years.

Category-wise Insights

How does the Paints and coating industry segment contribute to the Silica Gel market?

By Application, the paints and coating Segment gaining traction from the silica gel market, The segment holds the Dominating Market Share of 19.3% in the Market. This growth is driven by the demand for paints that can be used for multi-purposes such as being applied on cement walls, glass, wood, composites, and tiles, which have vigorous chemical and physical properties is rising rapidly. Customized paints are in high demand since it offers consumers the liberty to use paints according to their suitability. This will sequentially propel the demand for silica gel used in paints for application on various substrates, which was previously limited to application on cement walls and wood mainly.

High standard of living, urbanization and growing interest of customers are some factors representing the architectural touch in residential buildings. This has led to increasing demand for paints and coatings over the past few years, which will drive the market of silica gel. This change in demand pattern is estimated to work as a driver for the paints and coatings market. with the rising demand for paints getting very niche, the capability of manufacturers to supply these products as per consumers’ needs is flagging the way the market grows.

Which sector of the economy is expected to be a prominent Pore Size for Silica Gel?

Fine pore (Type-A) silica gels generally are clear pellets with a diameter of approximately 2.0-3.0 nm. They are translucent spherical or irregular in size and are used as adsorbents, catalyst carriers, separators, etc. They are majorly used as desiccants for various applications such as electric or electronic equipment, textile, medicines, foodstuff, and footwear. The segment is expected to create an incremental $ opportunity of US$ 103.3 Million between 2023 and 2033.

Competitive Landscape

The manufacturers of silica gel, especially for chromatography, are developing new products with various value-added services for emerging applications in the field of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, such as research on prostate cancer carcinogens, advanced lipid/protein tests, analysis, etc. As the market competition is increasing rapidly, manufacturers are constantly focusing on the development of new products to gain high-profit margins and earn a competitive edge on their elite patented product lines within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry increasing the use of liquid chromatography over gas chromatography is expected to be the major trend witnessed in the silica gel market in near future. This transition is expected as liquid chromatography is easier to use and is more effective in measuring compounds without the use of derivations. The scope of the packaging industry is growing rapidly as almost all the small and big enterprises are majorly focusing on their logistics. All these activities in the market are gaining traction for the Silica Gel market.

For instance,

In Sept 2021, Merck KGaA has opened a new production facility in Gernsheim to strengthen its Xirona® and Colorstream® Silica-based product line which is used in numerous applications for the paints and coating industry.

In May 2021, W.R. Grace & Co. announced that the company has completed the expansion of its fourth extension of the plant since its construction. Owing to the increasing demand for Grace's specialized silica solutions across the world this expansion will help the company to support sustained global customer demand.

Scope of Report

Silica Gel Market Segmentation

By Product Type:

• Indicating Silica Gel
• Non-Indicating Silica Gel

By Pore Size:

• Fine Pore (Type A)
• Medium Pore (Type B)
• Wide Pore (Type C)

By Application:

• Chromatography
• Catalyst Support
• Paints & Coatings
• Plastic
• Desiccants
  • Food
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Others
• Personal Care Products

By Region:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• East Asia
• South Asia and Pacific
• Middle East and Africa

To know more about delivery timeline for this report Contact Sales