(May 3, 2026) Putting aside the perspective of traditional production capacity and environmental protection policies, from the perspective of downstream application segmentation demand and product structure upgrade, the domestic silica market is showing a polarized pattern of low-end homogeneous involution and high-end special type shortage, and functional customized silica is becoming a new profit growth pole in the industry.

At present, there is an overcapacity of general-purpose silica for rubber tires and ordinary coatings, and the competition in low prices in the market is intensifying. In stark contrast, the gas phase method and highly dispersion modified silica suitable for high-end fields such as silicone rubber, defoamer, coating matting, pesticide carrier, electronic potting, and daily chemical thickening continue to be tight in the market, and the spot quotation has steadily risen, and the production cycle of foreign trade export orders has been extended to 1-2 months.

With the rapid expansion of new materials, new energy, and fine chemical industries, downstream customers no longer only pay attention to the unit price of silica, but also pay more attention to the customization of special indicators such as specific surface area, oil absorption value, dispersion, and hydrophobic lipophilic modification. In the past, the one-size-fits-all supply model of general models can no longer meet market demand, and manufacturers with formula modification, adjustable indicators, and stable supply capacity have greatly improved their bargaining power and customer stickiness.

Since the second quarter of 2026, the purchase volume of modified silica from China in the Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe has continued to rise, and overseas customers are more inclined to purchase high-purity, low-impurity special models to replace local high-priced imported raw materials, driving the transformation of China's silica export structure from low-end bulk goods to high-value-added customized products.

Industry analysis pointed out that the competition logic of the silica industry in the future has shifted from fighting for production capacity and price to fighting for formula, modification, and segmentation adaptation. Only by focusing on a single segmented track, deeply cultivating product modification technology, and matching downstream precise application scenarios can enterprises avoid low-end involution and seize long-term development dividends in the structural market of the industry.