Flat glass market analysis 2022

In 2022, the industrial production of flat glass (in monetary terms) decreased by 0.6% compared to 2021. At the same time, a significant decrease was observed in the fourth quarter of 2022: in October - minus 5.5% compared to the same period in 2021, in November - minus 8.6%, in December - minus 10.3%.

If we talk about the glass industry, then a significant decrease in the production of flat glass in physical terms occurred in the period from April to July 2022, when monthly production decreased by 36% - from 21.9 to 14.1 million m2.

Until the end of 2022, monthly production did not recover (see graph). As a result of the year, the production of sheet glass decreased by 15.8%.

Against the backdrop of reduced production and sales of flat glass, prices of glass producers during the construction season fell by almost 30%. At the same time, the weighted average price at the end of 2022 decreased by 2.1% compared to 2021.

The beginning of 2023 for the glass industry, to put it mildly, does not inspire optimism.

In January 2023, the shipment of glass by rail to the Russian market amounted to 2.62 million tons, which is 24.4% less than in the same period in 2022. The share of railway deliveries of glass to the Russian market in the total volume of glass consumption is about 20%.

Source: SMPRO Pro Market