Under the impetus of the dual carbon goals, the silica industry is accelerating its transformation, with green and high-end becoming the main development line


1.The rigid constraints of policies have forced the optimization of the production capacity structure
Under the background of the in-depth implementation of the national "dual carbon" strategy, the silica industry is undergoing profound structural changes. It is reported that the national capacity of silica will be approximately 3.2 million tons in 2025, with the precipitation method accounting for over 85%. However, the development of the industry has been subject to strict policy regulations. New projects must meet the energy efficiency benchmark value of 0.78 tons of standard coal per ton. The carbon emission intensity per unit product is strictly controlled below 2.1 tons of CO₂ per ton. The new environmental protection regulations have tightened the TDS limit for wastewater to 1,600 mg/ L. The combination of multiple policies has forced a large number of traditional production capacity to face transformation or exit.

2. The production capacity layout is accelerating its migration to areas rich in green electricity
Under the impetus of policy guidance, the layout of silica production capacity shows a distinct "westward expansion" feature. In 2024, 68% of the newly added production capacity across the country will be concentrated in green power-rich provinces in the northwest such as Xinjiang and Qinghai, an increase of 42 percentage points compared with 2020. This migration trend not only reduces the carbon emission pressure in the production process, but also enhances the overall energy efficiency of the industry by leveraging the advantages of green energy. Meanwhile, the "equivalent or reduced substitution" approval mechanism at the local level and the coverage of the carbon market have further strengthened the green orientation of capacity layout.

3. Green technological innovation breaks through development bottlenecks
Facing the dual pressures of environmental protection and energy efficiency, the industry is accelerating the research and application of green technologies. Clean production technologies such as closed-loop water circulation, CO₂ substitution for sulfuric acid, and waste heat recovery have been gradually popularized, promoting a wastewater reuse rate of over 95% and reducing carbon emission intensity by 18% to 21%. Among them, low-carbon processes such as the carbon dioxide precipitation method have been industrialized, reducing carbon emissions per unit product by approximately 18%. They have been included in the national key energy-saving and low-carbon technology promotion directory, providing crucial support for the green transformation of the industry.

4. The growth rate of demand for high-end products leads the industry
The upgrading of downstream high-end manufacturing demands has driven the optimization of the product structure of silica. Data shows that the compound annual growth rate of high-end products such as highly dispersed, ultra-pure and low heavy metal content has reached 18.6%, significantly higher than the industry average. The lightweighting requirements for new energy vehicles have driven a comprehensive upgrade in the performance indicators of highly dispersed silica. The specific surface area needs to be stabilized at 200±10m²/g, and the rolling resistance coefficient should be reduced to below 0.0065. The demand for ultra-pure silica in the consumer electronics and medical sectors has also been continuously released. In 2024, the related consumption volume reached 32,000 tons, representing a year-on-year growth of 38.7%.