(May 22, 2026) The domestic white carbon black market shows a structural differentiation pattern of "low-end internal competition and high-end shortage." As of May 21, data from Business Society shows the benchmark price of white carbon black remained stable at 6,066.67 yuan/ton, while the tax-inclusive quoted price for rubber-grade precipitated silica in Shandong remained in the 5,100-6,000 yuan per ton range. Price fluctuations have been minimal since the beginning of this month, and the market overall remains weak and stable. Meanwhile, orders for high-end vapor-phase method and modified specialized white carbon black remain strong, with domestic substitution accelerating across the board.
1. Traditional markets under pressure, accelerated clearing of low-end capacity
Entering May, the growth rate of traditional downstream demand for silica has slowed. Terminal consumption in the tire industry has fallen short of expectations, with limited order growth in general rubber, footwear, and other sectors. The market for general precipitation method silica is highly competitive, with obvious price pressure and intensified industry competition.
Industry insiders analyze that domestic precipitation-based silica production capacity is approaching saturation, low-end homogeneous products are fiercely priced, and some small and medium-sized manufacturers are continuously squeezed by environmental protection costs and raw material price fluctuations, facing risks of production cuts or exits. In contrast, the gap for specialized silica suitable for new energy, high-end chemicals, and fine additives continues to widen, and the industry's development focus is shifting from extensive expansion to deepening niche tracks and upgrading customized products.
2. Breakthroughs in the high-end market, accelerated domestic substitution across the board
With continuous breakthroughs in domestic fine chemical technology, the process of import substitution in the silica sector is accelerating, and the high-end market structure that relied on foreign brands is being completely rewritten. In the fumed-phase silica field, domestic companies have overcome technological breakthroughs, with product performance approaching international first-class levels. Leveraging cost-effectiveness, they are rapidly replacing imported products in high-end fields such as silicone rubber, coatings, and lithium battery separators.
Data shows that by 2025, China's silica black market will reach 16.24 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.3%; By 2026, the market size is expected to reach 17.91 billion yuan, corresponding to an annual growth rate of 10.3%, continuing a steady growth trend. In terms of exports, China's silica product competitiveness continues to improve, with the main export destinations shifting from traditional Southeast Asia to the Middle East, Africa, and South America, with the proportion of high-end product exports gradually increasing.
3. Accelerating green transformation, dual carbon policies lead new directions
With the continuous deepening of domestic dual-carbon policies, green and low-carbon production has become the core direction for the silica industry's transformation, ushering in new development opportunities through innovation in environmentally friendly production processes. On one hand, the industry is strictly implementing new environmental regulations. The stricter water pollutant discharge standards for industrial sodium silicate implemented in September 2025 have encouraged enterprises to upgrade environmental protection equipment and optimize production processes, significantly lowering the wastewater discharge limit per unit product.
On the other hand, the research and development of low-carbon products has become a hot topic. Demand for high-dispersion white carbon black for green tires is growing rapidly, effectively reducing tire rolling resistance and lowering carbon emissions; Energy-saving technologies and waste heat recovery technologies in the production process of vapor-phase silica are being promoted and applied, helping enterprises reduce energy consumption and lower their carbon footprint.
4. Expansion of emerging applications, opening new growth opportunities for the industry
The silica industry no longer relies solely on the traditional tire and rubber sector. With the iteration of new material technologies, its applications in emerging fields such as new energy, agriculture, environmental materials, and 3C electronics are rapidly being implemented, and diversified downstream expansion has become a new growth breakthrough for the industry.
In the new energy sector, silica is used for lithium battery separator coatings and electrode material modification, improving battery safety and cycle life; In agriculture, it serves as a pesticide carrier and silicon fertilizer raw material, supporting green and efficient agricultural development; In 3C electronics, it is used in silicone rubber buttons and optical lens coatings, with market demand continuing to grow.
5. Market Outlook: Structural market trend continues, with high-end green as the main theme
Industry institutions predict that in the short term, low-end prices in the silica market may remain weak, while high-end product prices remain firm. With the arrival of the traditional off-season, demand for general-purpose products is unlikely to improve significantly, and prices may fluctuate slightly; Meanwhile, high-end vapor-phase methods, modified specialized silica, and high-dispersion products for green tires will remain strong due to stable demand and tight supply.
In the medium to long term, domestic substitution, green transformation, and emerging applications will become the core themes of industry development. Enterprises with advantages in technology, scale, and environmental protection will continue to benefit, industry concentration is expected to further increase, and the silica industry is expected to move toward high-quality development.
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