Foam Glass Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Deposit (Open Cell, Closed Cell), By Application (Industrial, Building & Construction), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024 - 2030

Foam Glass Market Size & Trends

The global foam glass market size was estimated at USD 2.20 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2024 to 2030. Increasing demand for insulating materials in the building & construction industry is expected to propel the demand for market growth in the forecast period. Foam glass is an excellent material for building construction due to its remarkable properties such as low thermal conductivity, high compression strength, high frost resistance, and better durability. It can be used for constructing walls, providing heat insulation in refrigerating equipment, or serving as floating and filtering material. In addition, it is easy to cut and cement, making it an ideal material for construction purposes.

The U.S. is one of the biggest consumers of foam glass globally, and its consumption is expected to increase due to rising investment in the construction industry. In 2023, construction spending reached a value of USD 1,978.7 billion, which represents a 7.0% increase from 2022.

Furthermore, there are positive government policies and initiatives in place aimed at improving the efficiency of houses, which is expected to drive demand for the product. One such initiative is the ENERGY STAR program, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) runs to promote energy efficiency while providing environmental and financial benefits. This program collaborates with businesses and public-sector organizations to revolutionize the energy usage of commercial buildings.

In addition to this, there has been a significant surge in construction spending for manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Real manufacturing construction spending has doubled since the end of 2021, and this growth is supported by supportive policy environments for manufacturing construction. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), CHIPS Act, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), provide direct funding and tax incentives for both private and public manufacturing construction.

Market Concentration & Characteristics

The market is fragmented in nature. The industry has several prominent players like Owens Corning, Glapor, and Uusioaines Oy-Foamit, along with several regional medium and small-sized players operating in different parts of the world. These companies aim to expand their product portfolio and regional presence via collaborations, mergers & acquisitions, and joint ventures.

The global demand for foam glass is driven by various factors, including new residential construction, repair and remodeling activities, commercial and industrial construction across the world, stricter building codes, and the need for energy efficiency. Economic situations, growth in industrial production, and commercial construction activities also influence the consumption of foam glass in industrial and commercial applications.

Despite its higher concentration on building and industrial insulation, foam glass is not suitable for insulating wooden flooring due to its high impermeability. Although foam glass has similar insulation properties to other insulations, its cost is higher.

Application Insights

Based on application, the industrial segment held the market with the largest revenue share of over 46.0% in 2023. The product is used as an insulating material for applications such as piping insulation, maintenance of integral temperature in chemical processing systems, and providing safety against fire.

The building and construction segment is expected to register at the lucrative CAGR during the forecast period. For new construction or renovation projects, foam glass is ideal for use in steam rooms, spas, and swimming pools. Thus, rising investment in the building construction and renovation industry is expected to positively influence product demand.

Deposite Insights

Based on deposite, the open-cell foam glass segment is a type of material that has pores or open cells across its structure. These open cells allow for the easy flow of air and other gases. This type of product is commonly used for insulation purposes where its porous nature helps in absorbing sound and reducing the transfer of heat. Due to its lightweight and good compressive strength, open-cell foam glass is also suitable for use in construction and other industrial applications.

The cellular foam glass segment is a durable, lightweight, and rigid material that offers excellent thermal performance, superior compressive strength, and moisture resistance. Its long-lasting properties make it a popular choice for residential, commercial, and industrial building insulation applications, including roofs, walls, floors, and pipes. With its resistance to fire and moisture, cellular foam glass provides reliable insulation for a wide range of needs.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the foam glass market with the revenue share of around 22% in 2023. Demand for the product is primarily driven by new residential construction, repair, and remodeling activities, as well as commercial and industrial construction activities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

U.S. Foam Glass Market Trends

The foam glass market in the U.S. accounted for the revenue share of 13.6% in 2023. The dominance is attributed to increasing investment in the country's residential and commercial sectors.

Asia Pacific Foam Glass Market Trends

The foam glass market in Asia Pacific accounted for the revenue share of 29.0% in 2023. The growth is attributed to the rapid industrialization and economic development happening in the region.

The India foam glass market is the fastest growing market for foam glass in the Asia Pacific. Rising investment to boost petrochemical output is expected to propel the product demand across the forecast period.

The foam glass market in China accounted for the revenue share of 31.0% of Asia Pacific in 2023. The market growth is attributed to rising investment in various industries such as petrochemicals, manufacturing, and commercial & residential building construction.

Europe Foam Glass Market Trends

The foam glass market in Europe held the largest revenue share in 2023. Favorable government regulations are driving the adoption of building insulation materials in the region due to their ability to lower energy consumption, as well as the increasing adoption of various green building standards.

The Germany foam glass market held with the revenue share of 28.0% in 2023. Growing adoption of green building standards and growing investment in the renovation of various residential and industrial building structures are anticipated to drive growth in Germany.

The foam glass market in UK is expected to register at the fastest CAGR across the forecast period. Rising investments in new affordable houses coupled with the renovation of existing ones are anticipated to augment the demand for foam glass in the country.

Central & South America Foam Glass Market Trends

The foam glass market in Central & South America held with the revenue share of 10% in 2023. Rising investment in the construction of residential and commercial buildings is expected to drive market growth in the region.

The Brazil foam glass market held with the revenue share of 42.0% in 2023. The rising investment in tourism and industrial construction is expected to propel the market growth in the country across the forecast period.

Key Foam Glass Company Insights

Some of the key players operating in the market include Owens Corning and Shanghai Metal Corporation GLAPOR.

• Owens Corning is a global leader in the market.The company follows an integrated business model consisting of three reportable segments: composites, insulation, and roofing. Its primary customers for insulation products include insulation installers, retailers, home centers, distributors, and lumberyards across regions such as the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America

• Shanghai Metal Corporation is a leading manufacturer and supplier of foam glass, metals, machinery, containers, construction materials, mechanical products, electrical systems, and medical accessories

Uusioaines Oy Foamit, and REFAGLASS are some of the emerging market participants.

• Uusioaines Oy Foamit is the largest foam glass manufacturer and recycled glass processor in Finland, with operations in Sweden and Norway

• REFAGLASS was established in 2008 and is the largest producer of foam glass in the Czech Republic with two production facilities

Recent Developments

• May 2023, Schlüsselbauer and Reiling, two family-run companies in the foam glass sector, have merged their German operations to form a new company called Veriso GmbH & Co. KG. Both companies hold a 50% stake in the new entity and have contributed their production sites. The new company has taken over the activities of Schlüsselbauer Geomaterials GmbH and Veriso Schaumglas GmbH, giving it four foam glass furnaces across three production sites, making it one of the largest foam glass gravel producers in Europe

• In November 2022Foamit Group is investing EUR 8-10 million (USD 8.6- 10.8 million) to make their production process more environmentally friendly. They will do this by adding two new electricity-run production lines to their factory in Norway and modernizing their existing production lines to run on electricity

Foam Glass Market Report Scope

Global Foam Glass Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at country & regional levels and provides an analysis of the industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the foam glass market report based on deposit, application, and region:

• Deposit Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Open Cell Foam Glass

  • Closed Foam Glass

• Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Industrial

  • Building & Construction

  • Other

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • UK

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa