- Manufacturers
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The largest glass manufacturers in the world is Beijing Glass Group, with a revenue of $80.44 billion.
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As of 2022, the global glass manufacturing industry has a market size of $142.09 billion.
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At least 20 million tons of glass is produced each year.
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The global glass manufacturing industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% through 2032.
We can’t go throughout our day without coming into contact with some sort of glass. It’s in our buildings, in walls, windows, and fiberglass insulation. Specialty glass is in our cars, used to prevent large shards of glass from forming in the case of an accident. Glass is found in our homes, our mirrors, furniture, laptops, televisions, dishes, and decorations. Not to mention, the glass that you probably touch every day on your smartphone. You may even be wearing glass to help you read this article.
Then there is the glass we don’t think about in our day-to-day life, like bullet-proof glasses, glass tools and containers in laboratories, glass made to be building exteriors, and the glass that is used in technology, making up the tiny bits and pieces that make our machines work, like camera lenses and copiers.
Despite all of its uses, the majority of us are unaware of who makes our glass products and where they come from.
To alleviate the confusion, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten glass suppliers in the world.
DETAILED LIST OF THE 10 LARGEST GLASS MANUFACTURERS IN THE WORLD
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Beijing Glass Group
2021 Annual Revenue: $80.44 billion
Headquartered in, you guessed it, Beijing, this company comes from the Peking Glass company, which was founded in 1940. This company produces industrial and technical glass as well as eyewear, and quartz and silicon materials. They also produce photovoltaic cell components, which are the parts that make up solar panels and allow us to transform sunlight into energy. Information on their revenue and number of employees was not available, and because of this, we have put them at the bottom of our listing.
Glass manufacturers supply us with millions of modern-day products and solutions, those we can take for granted, and those we do not even think about. So, next time you look in the mirror, wash a dish, or roll down your car window, take a moment to mentally thank the glass manufacturers of the world.
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2022 Annual Revenue: $56.47 billion
Many glass companies have been around for relatively long periods, but the oldest one on our list is Saint Gobain, which was originally founded in 1665 and is currently headquartered in Paris, France.
It got its start as a mirror manufacturer, and it is known for having supplied the mirrors in the famous Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles.
Today, they own several brands of glass, which create building materials, such as windows and walls, as well as car windows and windshields. They have been immensely successful, and annually they bring in about $48 billion (USD) in revenue, making them the leader in glass manufacturing around the world.
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2022 Annual Revenue: $17.652 billion
Originally known as the “Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company,” PPG has been creating glass products since 1883. As you may have guessed, it was founded in Pennsylvania, which makes it the leader in American glass manufacturing. They are particularly known for their headquarters ’ architecture, which gives it the appearance of a gothic glass castle.
By 1900, PPG had significantly diversified the products it offered, and today they produce paints, coatings, chemicals, optical products, and fiberglass, in addition to glass. With over 47,000 employees, PPG is a Fortune 500 company and brings in around $15 billion annually.
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2021 Annual Revenue: $15.28 billion
This global glass manufacturer is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and was founded over a century ago in 1907. It was Japan’s first manufacturer of sheet glass.
They are known for producing automotive glass, specially made to break into smaller pieces, to avoid serious injury due to sharp edges in the event of a crash. Asahi also produces electronic materials, fiber optics, flat glass, and glass-based construction materials.
They are also the main competitor of Gorilla Glass, with their version of smart device glass, known as Dragontrail. Annually, they bring in $11 billion in revenue, and they employ over 51,000 employees.
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2022 Annual Revenue: $14.189 billion
Founded in 1851, Corning, Inc. has been operating for nearly two centuries. Headquartered in Corning, New York, they manufacture specialty glass, ceramics, and advanced optics, as well as glass for the automotive industry.
One of their products is probably in your pocket right now. Apple approached Corning in 2005, asking them to create a thin yet tough glass for their upcoming product, the iPhone. Gorilla Glass was the result, and it is now used on billions of smart devices worldwide, including mobile phones, laptop displays, and television screens.
Because of this lucrative deal, Corning, Inc. brings in approximately $12 billion annually, allowing them to employ 52,000 workers.
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Nippon Sheet Glass Co.
2022 Annual Revenue: $5.230 billion
Also headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Nippon Sheet Glass was originally founded in 1918. Today, they sell to 130 countries, and worldwide they employ almost 27,000 people. Annually, they obtain around $5 billion in revenue.
They specialize in building and automotive glass, which make up around 90% of their annual sales. The remaining 10% is comprised of their special glasses, an umbrella term used to describe a collection of unique markets, such as glass displays and products used in printers and copiers. They also supply architectural glass, which is used in construction, as well as in the solar energy sector.
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Vitro
Annual Revenue: $2.1 billion
Virto is based in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, Mexico, and they are the largest glass manufacturer in that country. Founded in 1909, this company has stood the test of time. Their website claims that they are “the largest glass manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere and the largest glass producer in North America.” They serve their flat glass to the majority of Latin America.
Their products range from glass containers, such as those used in dishware and food packaging, automotive, and architectural glass, and machinery, equipment, and chemicals. Their revenue amounts to $2.1 billion annually, and worldwide they employ around 15,000 people.
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2021 Annual Revenue: $593.4 million
Originally founded in 1826, this glass manufacturer has been a subsidiary of Nippon Sheet Glass since 2006. However, their sales are so substantial, for this list, we decided to view their revenues separately. They are headquartered in Lancashire, England, and have become a major supplier of toughened automotive, aerospace, and building glass across the world.
Their acquisition by NSG was a deal made out of necessity. Their competitor, Asahi Glass Co. owned around 25% of the global market at the time of the deal. On their own, neither company could compete, but together, they would dominate an equal share of the market. Today, both of the companies make a combined $9.5 billion, making them a more fearsome competitor to Asahi, which makes $11 billion.
Annually, Pilkington receives $4.5 billion in revenue, and they employ around 24,000 people worldwide.
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Cornwall Glass
2021 Annual Revenue: $37 million
Established in 1978, Cornwall Glass is one of the younger companies on our list, and they are by far the smallest, with just 128 employees. They don’t even have their own Wikipedia page. However, this family-owned company is included on this list due to its high revenue, of around $37 million annually. Despite their size, their accomplishments in the industry have earned them a place on this list, among the big dogs of the industry.
Their success could be the result of their diverse product offerings, including mirrors, ceramics, and heat-strengthened glass, as well as windows, shelving, decorative glass, and doors.
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2022 Annual Revenue: N/A
Based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, this American glass manufacturer was established in 1932 and has an annual revenue of $4 billion. It was founded as a windshield manufacturer, however, today they make float glass, fiberglass insulation, and other building materials for construction and automotive markets. They also create insulated, laminated, and tempered glass products.
They employ 14,000 people worldwide, and they specialize in creating glass for construction and transportation purposes. They pride themselves on creating architectural glass that is energy-efficient, meaning glass that is a good insulator and glass that makes it easier to heat and cool buildings. They sell to over 150 countries.
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How We Created Our Ranking
We created our ranking using revenue data from Thomasnet.com, a site dedicated to connecting manufacturers with buyers, and information from each company’s website. We’ve listed them from highest revenue to lowest in USD, except Beijing Glass Group, for which this data is not available to the public.
We also list information like the types of products they produce as well as the number of people they employ. Please note that the list of products they offer is not exhaustive, and it is rather a reflection of their most common products or the products that they are known for creating and selling.
Top Global Glass Suppliers and their Country of Origin:
Below we include a bit about each of these companies’ history, as well as information regarding their business, taking a deeper dive into who they are as a manufacturer.
Largest Glass Manufactures in the World FAQ
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Who is the largest glass manufacturer in the world?
Beijing Glass Group is the largest glass manufacture in the world. They have a annual revenue of $80.44 billion. Saint Gobain is the second largest with an annual revenue of $56.47 billion. PPG Industries is the third largest with an annual revenue of $17.652 billion.
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How big is the glass manufacturing industry?
The global glass manufacturing industry has a market size of $142.09 billion. The global glass manufacturing industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% through 2032.
- Manufacturers
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
