By 2025, the market size of China's precipitated silica industry is expected to exceed 11.5 billion yuan, an increase of over 10% compared to 2023. This growth is due to strong demand from downstream industries such as tires, coatings, and feed, as well as improved product performance brought about by technological advancements.
In the field of tires, precipitated silica is the core reinforcing material for green tires, and the market demand continues to rise. Data shows that the amount of silicon dioxide added to each new energy vehicle tire is increased by more than 20% compared to traditional tires to improve wear resistance and reduce rolling resistance. Domestic leading enterprises such as Quecheng Corporation and Lianke Technology have achieved mass production of highly dispersed silica through optimized production processes, and their product performance has reached the international advanced level. For example, the "Green Tire Special Silicon Dioxide" of Quecheng Group has achieved substitution for imports in multiple leading tire companies, and its market share has steadily increased.
The paint industry has also become a growth engine. With the tightening of environmental regulations, the demand for silica in water-based coatings has surged. As a thickener and matting agent, precipitated silica can significantly enhance the coverage and weather resistance of coatings. The person in charge of a well-known coating company stated that after adopting a new type of precipitated silica, the VOC emissions of their products have been reduced by 30%, while the construction performance has been greatly improved.
The application expansion of the feed industry has also injected new impetus into the market. As a feed carrier and anti caking agent, precipitated silica can improve the stability of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Data shows that the market size of feed grade silica is expected to reach 1.5 billion yuan by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of over 8%.
Despite the broad prospects of the industry, challenges still exist. At present, the overcapacity of precipitated silica in China is mainly concentrated in the mid to low end field, and high-end products still rely on imports. To cope with this situation, leading enterprises are accelerating their R&D layout. For example, Yuanxiang New Materials improves product performance through patented technology, while Xinna Technology focuses on the industrial application of nanoscale silica.
At the policy level, the government has introduced multiple support measures to encourage enterprises to upgrade their technology. The "Action Plan for Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvement" released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology clearly proposes to promote the innovation and upgrading of key materials such as silicon dioxide. In this context, industry concentration is expected to further increase, and top companies will consolidate their market position through technological barriers and scale advantages.
In the future, with the rise of emerging markets such as new energy vehicles and environmentally friendly coatings, the precipitated silica industry will usher in broader development space. Enterprises need to continuously increase their R&D investment, break through the technological bottleneck of high-end products, and take the initiative in global competition.