The types of glass presently manufactured in India are float glass and sheet glass
The Glass Industry in India has the production capacity of around 0.68 million tons in a year
Production of float glass is about 0.51 million tons, which is nearly 75 % of the total glass production in India.
Production of sheet glass is about 0.17 million tons, which is nearly 25 % of the total glass production in India.
Float glass can be classified into three types, such as colored glass, processed glass, and clear unprocessed glass.
The construction sector is the largest consumer of float glass. Around 60 % of the total production is used by the construction sector.
The automobile sector and the mirror manufacturing activities use 15 % each of the total produce.
The other glass consumers use 10 % of the total production.
FDI Inflows to Glass Industry-Major Players
The Indian Glass Industry is dominated by the subsidiaries of the major foreign glass manufacturing companies
The foreign players are Saint-Gobain, Asahi Float glass, and Gujarat Guardian
Saint-Gobain has invested ` 700 crores in establishing a second float glass and automotive glass-manufacturing unit at Sriperumbudur, in Tamil Nadu.
Asahi Glass, is planning to establish a production unit at an estimated cost of ` 50 crores near Chennai.
FDI Inflows to Glass-Yearly
In the year 2003, the total number of FDI approvals was 144, out of which 41 were technical and 103 were financial. Total investment was ` 22820.50 million, and the contribution to the total FDI was 0.80 % pertaining to the glass industry
In the year 2004, the total number of FDI approvals was 78, out of which 28 were technical and 50 were financial. Total investment was ` 13416.76 million, and the contribution to the total FDI was 0.74 % pertaining to the glass industry
