Sodium silicates are manufactured in solid form (glassy sodium silicate) and in liquid form (sodium water glass usually obtained by dissolving glassy sodium silicate in water or using a direct method). The CIECH Group, through CIECH Vitrosilicon S.A. and CIECH Soda Romania S.A., manufactures and sells glassy sodium silicate as well as their solutions.

Sodium silicates are used for production of precipitated silica (about 40% of consumption in Europe, used mainly in the tyre and beauty product industries), detergents (more than 15%), paper, coatings based on titanium white and ceramic materials and in other industries.

In developing countries, applications related to production of detergents dominates, and the total consumption of these silica depends to a large extent on the number of citizens.

Sodium silicates are one of the most popular non-organic chemicals, and are manufactured all over the world. However, due to their relatively low price and high importance of the liquid form in trade (silicates dissolved in water), international turnovers are performed usually on a local level, i.e. only on the European continent.

The largest production capacities are located in Asia (about 60%) and the most developed regions of the world (Europe, North America) are responsible for approx. 1/3 of global production capacities in total.

Sodium silicate production capacities in Europe are estimated at approx. 1.2 million tonnes per year. However, majority of these capacities is used by producers, who in general do not offer silicates on the free market. European production capacities are located in Western and Central Europe. PQ and BASF concerns as well as the CIECH Group, are European leaders in silicates production. Our Group’s share in total production capacities in Europe is estimated at about 14% for glassy sodium silicate (third largest producer).

Total demand for sodium silicates in Europe, at the free market, is estimated at more than 400 million tonnes per year, and has recently grown at an average annual rate of a few percent (CAGR of 3.9%). A segment with a much higher than average growth rate is the production of precipitated silica, although due to its consumption mainly in the tyre industry, the recent downturn in the automotive sector will most likely translate into a slowdown in this growth rate.

The CIECH Group, owing to investments in the expansion of capacity in previous years, has been strengthening its position on the free market of sodium silicates. We estimate our share in sales of silicates in Europe at approx. 35%.