(May 31, 2026) The domestic market for the silica industry is operating steadily, with the foreign trade market becoming the core highlight driving industry growth. Supported by the restructuring of the global chemical supply chain, the recovery of overseas terminal industries, and the prominent cost-performance advantages of domestic products, China's white carbon dioxide exports have achieved steady growth for several consecutive months, with overseas market share continuously rising, completely reversing the previous weak export situation in the off-season. Foreign trade drivers have become the core pillar supporting the industry's prosperity in May.
According to customs statistics and industry research information, domestic silica exports performed well overall in May, with shipments steadily increasing month-on-month compared to April and a significant year-on-year increase. Currently, China is the world's largest producer and exporter of silica, with its capacity and technological advantages continuously being unleashed, consolidating its dominant position in the global market. Entering the second quarter, operating rates in overseas tires, rubber products, and fine chemicals industries continued to rise, with overseas buyers concentrating on restocking, providing sustained rigid demand support for domestic silica exports.
The structure of export markets continues to be optimized, and the trade landscape keeps expanding. Previously, domestic exports of silica were mainly concentrated in low-end demand markets such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with products primarily of ordinary rubber-grade products and relatively low added value. In May this year, the export structure saw a significant upgrade, with exports to high-end markets such as the EU, North America, Japan, and South Korea rising sharply. Overseas high-end markets focus on purchasing high-dispersion modified silica and vapor-phase silica, mainly used in high-end green tires, precision electronics, and premium coatings, significantly boosting the industry's overall export profits.
Industry foreign trade companies reported that overseas inquiries continued to rise this month, with ample new orders. Most companies' order scheduling has extended to mid to late June, and the overall pace of export deliveries is tight. Compared to domestic overseas products, domestic silica offers comprehensive advantages in quality stability, timely delivery, and pricing systems. Coupled with recent smooth international trade logistics and stable sea freight costs, this has further boosted export enthusiasm among domestic companies.
Breakthroughs in emerging overseas markets have yielded significant results. In addition to traditional mature trade markets, China's development of white carbon black in emerging markets such as Latin America, Africa, and Australia accelerated this month. Many leading companies have gradually opened up incremental markets through overseas cooperation and cross-border distribution layouts, breaking the trade pattern dependent on a single region. A diversified overseas market layout effectively disperses market risks caused by policy and demand fluctuations in a single region, making the industry's foreign trade system more robust.
Supported by strong foreign trade conditions, the domestic industry's production and sales balance has been further optimized. In May, traditional domestic downstream sectors were in a seasonally stable phase, with relatively moderate domestic demand growth. However, strong foreign trade orders effectively filled the domestic demand gap, driving overall business operations to maintain reasonable levels, and industry inventories remained low and healthy. The model of coordinated domestic and international sales has helped the silica industry escape the dramatic fluctuations of traditional peak and off-peak seasons, greatly improving the stability of industry operations.
Meanwhile, industry export barriers continue to be optimized, and brand influence keeps rising. With continuous iteration of domestic silica production technology, the quality of high-end products has reached internationally advanced levels, gradually replacing imported products while continuously capturing market share in overseas high-end markets. The industry's standardized and regulated export system is gradually improving, and the international recognition of domestically produced silica continues to rise, laying a solid foundation for long-term export growth.
Industry analysts say that the continued strength in the foreign trade market is the core incremental highlight of the silica industry this year. In the short term, demand from overseas terminal industries in June will continue to improve, and foreign trade orders are expected to keep growing. In the long term, as the international competitiveness of domestic high-end silica continues to improve and overseas market layout is being improved, exports will remain an important driving force for high-quality industry development, promoting a comprehensive upgrade of the domestic silica industry from capacity export to brand, technology, and high-end product export.
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