(News on April 19, 2026)In the second quarter of 2026, the domestic silica market has bid farewell to traditional homogeneous competition and entered a new cycle driven by demand, focusing on high-end breakthroughs and increasing exports. With concentrated demand in green tires, new energy silicone rubber, food and pharmaceutical carriers, etc., the industry has presented a pattern of "ordinary products under pressure and high-value-added products in high demand". Coupled with the continuous recovery of overseas orders, the silica industry is accelerating its migration to the mid-to-high end of the value chain.

I. Diversification of Downstream Demand and Growth in High-End Categories
As the largest application field of silica, the tire industry has seen a steady increase in its operating rate, and the penetration rate of green low-rolling-resistance tires has continued to rise, driving the demand for high-dispersion silica to grow by more than 15% year-on-year. Leading tire enterprises have increased their procurement of high-end formulas, and the premium of high-dispersion products over ordinary ones has exceeded 20%, becoming a core support for corporate profits.

The demand in non-rubber fields such as silicone rubber, coatings, toothpaste, and feed carriers has rapidly expanded. The demand for silica in new energy thermal management silicone rubber has grown by 24%, and food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade products are in short supply. In contrast, ordinary precipitated silica has been affected by overcapacity, with slow sales and thin profits, and the market has clearly tilted towards high-end products.

II. Optimization of Export Structure and Growth in High-Standard Overseas Orders
Under the EU CBAM carbon tariff and the reconstruction of the international supply chain, China's silica exports have shifted from "volume" to "quality". The export share of high-dispersion and low-carbon process products has increased to 38%, with Southeast Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and North America as the main growth markets. The export production schedule in April increased by 12% month-on-month.

Enterprises with green certifications and stable quality are more favored by international customers. Long-term orders have become the mainstay of foreign trade, and the bargaining power has increased. The export prices of some special models have risen by 6% to 9% year-on-year. Low-end capacity has weakened its international competitiveness due to increased carbon costs and environmental protection thresholds.

III. Green Technology Becomes the Core of Competition and Backward Capacity is Accelerated to Exit
The industry conference has clearly stated that low-carbon processes, carbon dioxide acidification, and intelligent production are the main lines of transformation. A batch of green and low-carbon high-dispersion silica projects have been launched in Shandong, Jiangxi, and other places, with energy consumption and carbon emissions per ton reduced by 15% to 20% compared to traditional processes, better meeting the requirements of international carbon tariffs.

Many regions are strictly implementing policies to eliminate backward capacity. Ordinary devices with an annual capacity of less than 15,000 tons are required to exit within a limited period, and new capacity with non-green processes is restricted. Industry concentration continues to increase, and leading enterprises are seizing the high-end market with their technological and scale advantages, while small and medium-sized enterprises are accelerating their transformation or exit.

IV. Outlook: Parallel Development of High-End and Globalization
In the short term, costs will still provide support, and prices will remain high and volatile. In the medium and long term, the demand structure will continue to optimize, and new energy, foreign trade, and high-end manufacturing will become the three major growth engines. Enterprises with the ability to develop high-end products, implement low-carbon production, and achieve global delivery will dominate the industry reshuffle and drive China's silica industry from a capacity powerhouse to a technology leader.