East Africa Flat Glass Market Size & Share 2018 - 2024
Market Size by Product (Laminated, Tempered, Basic Float, Insulating), by Application (Construction [New Construction, Refurbishment, Interior], Automotive [OEM, Aftermarket]), Industry Analysis Report, Country Outlook, Application Potential, Price Trends, & Forecast.
Report ID: GMI2671
|
Published Date: June 2018
|
Report Format: PDF
Download Free PDF
Authors:
Kiran Pulidindi, Kunal Ahuja
East Africa Flat Glass Market Size
East Africa Flat Glass Market size was over USD 145 million in 2017 and industry expects consumption at over 140 kilo tons by 2024.
Rising investments in infrastructure development accompanied by favorable government & trade regulations, and rising population are likely to accelerate construction growth majorly in Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda and Tanzania. Increasing development in the building & construction sector is majorly driving East Africa flat glass market growth.
Construction market in East Africa constituted of approximately 70 projects in 2017 with total value exceeding USD 30 billion thereby accelerating the infrastructure industry in the region. Rising demand from the construction sector is predicted to create growth opportunities for products such as partitions, roofs, staircases and beams which will further foster East Africa flat glass market demand. Tanzania construction sector shows rapid growth owing to increasing residential & non-residential buildings and roads, which may accelerate East Africa flat glass market.
High economic growth accompanied with rising investments from public and private sectors may create growth opportunities in the East Africa flat glass market size. These products include laminated, tempered and insulating types, are highly versatile and incorporated into windows, doors, table tops, handrails, skylights and greenhouses. The furniture market in Kenya was valued at over USD 500 million in 2016 and is expected to grow at significantly owing to increasing spending on interior refurbishments to accentuate the appeal and inclination towards modernization.
Increasing trend of energy efficient and smart buildings coupled with upcoming infrastructure projects and supportive government initiatives may stimulate the product demand. Insulating products used simultaneously with low-e-glass provides effective energy conservation and means to comply with building codes. The government is taking efforts to ensure that only Eurocode-complaint building materials will be allowed entry in the market by 2021 which is further expected to stimulate the East Africa flat glass industry growth.
East Africa flat glass market growth is stimulated further by the developing automotive industry driven by population growth, economic growth and rising income levels. Kenya automotive sales was over 11,500 vehicles in 2017 and is expected to increase as many established brands such as Toyota, Simba Colt and General Motors are expanding their sales network in the region.
East Africa Flat Glass Market Analysis
Tempered glass market demand may expect significant gains close to 5% over the forecast period. It is manufactured by thermal treatment for increasing its strength and is considered four to five times stronger than other counterparts. These products are considered as a safe alternative as it shatters into tiny pieces in the event of breakage thereby minimizing the possibility of injuries and stimulating the East Africa flat glass market demand in the automotive segment.
Flat insulating glass market demand may witness high growth in the forecast period. It mainly comprises of multiple panes with air spaces which slows down heat transfer, thereby making them ideal for buildings such as hotels, houses, and hospitals. Rise in concerns to lower energy usage with growing need to reduce carbon emissions should fuel product demand.
Flat laminated glass may expect consumption close to 40 kilo tons by 2024. It is produced by fixing a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) sheet, which makes these fragments stick to PVB sheet upon breakage, thus ensuring safety. It is preferably used for skylight construction and manufacturing vehicle windshields, thereby promoting East Africa flat glass market demand.
East Africa flat glass market from construction applications was valued at over USD 115 million in 2017. Rising demand for windows, partitions, doors, floors, stairs, bathrooms and walkways is predicted to accelerate industry growth. Increase in new residential construction projects owing to rise in infrastructure spending & favorable government schemes should fuel product demand.
East Africa flat glass market demand for aftermarket automotive applications may witness significant gains close to 4.5% by the end of forecast period. Laminated and tempered products are highly used in vehicle windscreens and side windows owing to their safety properties of shattering into tiny fragments thereby reducing the possibility of injuries. These products also find applications in backlite wrapping and vehicle roofs.
Kenya flat glass market demand was valued at over USD 30 million in 2017. Rising automotive sales driven by GDP growth, rising foreign & government investment, easy credit facilities, rising vehicle exports to Uganda and Tanzania and increasing heavy vehicle sales are the primary factors influencing growth in the region.
Ethiopia flat glass market size is expected to witness significant gains at over 5.5% over the forecast period. Booming construction sector driven by the major projects coupled with favorable investment environment are the major factors contributing to industry growth. The country’s automotive industry is likely to witness rapid gains owing to an untapped automotive industry and rising commercial vehicle exports thus increasing regional market share.
East Africa Flat Glass Market Share
East Africa flat glass market is significantly competitive and fragmented among multiple participants such as:
Rising demand for these products in the region is drawing international manufacturers to the regional market owing to the presence of few domestic manufacturers and strong reliance on imports.
In February 2016, Chinese company Glass Industry Group of Africa constructed product facility in Tanzania with approximately 600 tons per day production capacity to achieve East Africa flat glass industry expansion in the region.
East Africa Flat Glass Industry Background
Flat glass is made from melting raw materials such as soda lime, dolomite, silica sand, magnesium and calcium oxide in a furnace followed by spreading the molten crystal in sheets of a desired thickness and cooling to obtain the final product.
These products contain high content of sodium oxide and magnesium oxide as compared to its other counterparts. These are generally produced by float technique and are also manufactured by rolling or overflow downdraw techniques. The advantages associated with these products are their capability to be bent after production and increasing usage in automotive and architectural applications such as windshields, windows, roofs and partitions, which may accelerate East Africa flat glass market demand.
Research methodology, data sources & validation process
This report draws on a structured research process built around direct industry conversations, proprietary modelling, and rigorous cross-validation and not just desk research.
Our 6-step research process
1. Research design & analyst oversight
At GMI, our research methodology is built on a foundation of human expertise, rigorous validation, and complete transparency. Every insight, trend analysis, and forecast in our reports is developed by experienced analysts who understand the nuances of your market.
Our approach integrates extensive primary research through direct engagement with industry participants and experts, complemented by comprehensive secondary research from verified global sources. We apply quantified impact analysis to deliver dependable forecasts, while maintaining complete traceability from original data sources to final insights.
2. Primary research
Primary research forms the backbone of our methodology, contributing nearly 80% to overall insights. It involves direct engagement with industry participants to ensure accuracy and depth in analysis. Our structured interview program covers regional and global markets, with inputs from C-suite executives, directors, and subject matter experts. These interactions provide strategic, operational, and technical perspectives, enabling well-rounded insights and reliable market forecasts.
3. Data mining & market analysis
Data mining is a key part of our research process, contributing nearly 20% to the overall methodology. It involves analysing market structure, identifying industry trends, and assessing macroeconomic factors through revenue share analysis of major players. Relevant data is collected from both paid and unpaid sources to build a reliable database. This information is then integrated to support primary research and market sizing, with validation from key stakeholders such as distributors, manufacturers, and associations.
4. Market sizing
Our market sizing is built on a bottom-up approach, starting with company revenue data gathered directly through primary interviews, alongside production volume figures from manufacturers and installation or deployment statistics. These inputs are then pieced together across regional markets to arrive at a global estimate that stays grounded in actual industry activity.
5. Forecast model & key assumptions
Every forecast includes explicit documentation of:
✓ Key growth drivers and their assumed impact
✓ Restraining factors and mitigation scenarios
✓ Regulatory assumptions and policy change risk
✓ Technology adoption curve parameter
✓ Macroeconomic assumptions (GDP growth, inflation, currency)
✓ Competitive dynamics and market entry/exit expectations
6. Validation & quality assurance
The final stages involve human validation, where domain experts manually review filtered data to identify nuances and contextual errors that automated systems might miss. This expert review adds a critical layer of quality assurance, ensuring data aligns with research objectives and domain-specific standards.
Our triple-layer validation process ensures maximum data reliability:
✓ Statistical Validation
✓ Expert Validation
✓ Market Reality Check
Trust & credibility
Verified data sources
Trade publications
Security & defense sector journals and trade press
Industry databases
Proprietary and third-party market databases
Regulatory filings
Government procurement records and policy documents
Academic research
University studies and specialist institution reports
Company reports
Annual reports, investor presentations, and filings
Expert interviews
C-suite, procurement leads, and technical specialists
GMI archive
13,000+ published studies across 30+ industry verticals
Trade data
Import/export volumes, HS codes, and customs records
Parameters studied & evaluated
Every data point in this report is validated through primary interviews, true bottom-up modelling, and rigorous cross-checks. Read about our research process →