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Flat Glass Manufacturing in the UK Industry Data and Analysis
The UK Flat Glass Manufacturing industry has experienced dramatic revenue swings in recent years. The industry sells raw glass to flat glass processors and shapers to be processed for various applications across sectors like construction and automotive production. Performance is thus tied to these sectors, which have been volatile due to economic fluctuations, shifting consumer preferences and regulatory changes. The industry is dominated by three players – Saint-Gobain, Guardian and Pilkington – due to high entry costs and the high cost of production in the UK, leading to a preference for consolidating operations overseas. As a result, revenue hangs on the fortunes of these companies, which has been hit by softening demand and a slow bleed of production capacity overseas. Still, revenue is forecast to rise at a compound annual rate of 1.3% over the five years through 2025-26 to £248.6 million, largely owing to a recovery in demand post-pandemic. Revenue is expected to drop by 4.1% in 2025-26.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released August 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code C23.110. Companies in this industry manufacture flat glass. Most of this is float glass but manufacturers also rolled glass, drawn glass and blown flat glass. Products are used in various applications, including windows, glass doors, architectural glazing and automotive glass. Glass can be wired, coloured or tinted. The industry doesn’t include flat glass that has been shaped or processed (e.g. laminated or coated). Related terms covered in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include curtain wall, cullet, leader, float glass, rolled glass and tinted glass.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include Float glass, Rolled glass and Drawn and blown flat glass.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include Saint-Gobain Glass (United Kingdom) Ltd, Pilkington United Kingdom Ltd and Guardian Industries UK Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The market size of the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is £248.6m in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 5 businesses in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 10.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is likely to be impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is likely to be impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
Has the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom are Saint-Gobain Glass (United Kingdom) Ltd, Pilkington United Kingdom Ltd and Guardian Industries UK Ltd
What does the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include?
Float glass and Rolled glass are part of the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is Saint-Gobain Glass (United Kingdom) Ltd.
How competitive is the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Flat Glass Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
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