According to the US-based National Glass Association, the flat glass market is expected to achieve modest growth during 1996, with demand to increase by 2.5% and with several sectors rising as high as…
According to the US-based National Glass Association, the flat glass market is expected to achieve modest growth during 1996, with demand to increase by 2.5% and with several sectors rising as high as 3.5%. Growth should be sustained through 1996 in the residential repairs and remodelling segments, as 1995 expenditures exceeded 1994. The strong forecast is backed by confidence that improved consumer durable spending in the future will be over 4% against 1995 levels. Also, demand from the housing and automotive sectors for glass should remain robust through 1996, with uses for value-added goods playing a continuous part in both sectors. However, it has been reported that sales of flat glass in Japan decreased by 5% in 1995. The decline is attributable to sluggish demand in the construction industry and decreased auto production. The stronger yen in the first half pushed up the number of imports. In particular, imports of float glass rose by 60%. Japan“s top-ranked company Asahi Glass Co. increased its sales by 0.2%. However, the sales of Nippon Sheet Glass Co. fell 0.1% and Central Glass Co. lost 0.3%. Imports increased by 0.2% to stand at 4.1% of total sales, with US firms PPG Industries Inc. and Guardian Industries Corp. accounting for a large part of the increase.