In late October 2026, China’s consumption structure of precipitated silica keeps adjusting. The traditional consumption pattern centered on rubber and tires is gradually changing. Demand in non-rubber sectors including coatings, inks, adhesives and daily chemicals rises steadily, becoming the core driver boosting the increment of specialty precipitated silica. Monitoring data shows matting precipitated silica and hydrophobic fumed silica register strong order performance, while standard precipitated silica trades only on demand with prices fluctuating narrowly within 6390-6470 CNY per ton. Orders for traditional rubber miscellaneous parts and shoe-making sectors remain weak. Downstream enterprises face capital shortage and stick to hand-to-mouth procurement without large stockpiling. Traders operate cautiously and keep low inventories. Major transactions come from long-term framework clients, and there is large bargaining room for sporadic orders.

　　On the supply side, domestic precipitated silica enterprises keep shifting product layout toward non-rubber markets. Many manufacturers increase investment in production line transformation for hydrophobically modified and ultra-fine precipitated silica, and capacity of special grades for waterborne coatings and industrial adhesives is released steadily. Approval for new projects of standard precipitated silica is tightened. With normalized supervision on environmental protection and energy consumption, backward small and medium capacity is phased out continuously. Fluctuations in costs of sodium silicate, sulfuric acid and electricity squeeze profit margins of standard products, pushing enterprises to turn to high value-added niche markets. The localization of fumed silica speeds up. Domestic enterprises keep making breakthroughs in surface modification technology, narrowing the performance gap with overseas brands and cutting raw material procurement costs for downstream coating and adhesive manufacturers.

　　On the demand side, the development of waterborne coatings drives rising demand for matting precipitated silica. Domestic environmental policies promote the reduction of solvent-based coatings. Output of architectural waterborne paint, industrial anti-corrosion paint and wood paint increases steadily. As a filler for matting, anti-settling and scratch resistance, precipitated silica acts as a key additive in formulations. Purchases of ultra-fine high-purity precipitated silica grow continuously in high-end inks and color paste sectors. Relying on its rheological property, precipitated silica solves pigment sedimentation and sagging issues. The adhesive and sealant industry keeps expanding. Hydrophobic fumed silica is used for thickening, thixotropy and anti-sagging, and its consumption rises steadily in new energy sealing and construction sealant fields. Demand in daily chemicals, pharmaceutical carriers, polishing materials and other niche markets climbs gradually, lifting demand for modified specialty precipitated silica. By contrast, demand from traditional rubber sectors stays sluggish and offers limited support for standard precipitated silica.

　　In foreign trade, exports of non-rubber specialty precipitated silica expand gradually. Overseas markets for waterborne coatings and eco-friendly adhesives maintain steady demand. Inquiries for domestic hydrophobic fumed silica and ultra-fine matting precipitated silica grow, and purchasers in Southeast Asia and Europe are gradually switching to domestic alternatives. Exports of ordinary precipitated silica remain under pressure due to impact from low-cost overseas competitors, and export growth of conventional grades stays weak. Fluctuations in ocean freight rates and exchange rates bring uncertainties, and foreign trade enterprises are cautious about accepting large forward orders. Partial import reliance still exists for high-end pharmaceutical and cosmetic grade precipitated silica. Domestic enterprises keep tackling purification and modification technologies, leaving broad room for import substitution.

　　Market outlook: The growth focus of precipitated silica will gradually shift from the single tire track to diversified non-rubber fields such as coatings, adhesives and daily chemicals. In the short run, prices of standard precipitated silica stay weak and stable with slow inventory digestion, while demand for modified precipitated silica dedicated to coatings and adhesives remains robust. In the medium and long term, the popularization of domestic waterborne coatings and expansion of new adhesive materials will continuously fuel demand growth for specialty precipitated silica. Industrial competition evolves from simple competition for rubber fillers into refined competition over particle size control, surface modification and dispersion performance. Enterprises focusing on R&D of niche grades will gain more market opportunities, while manufacturers of homogenized ordinary precipitated silica will face mounting operational pressure. Follow-up attention should be paid to operating rates of the coating industry, policies for eco-friendly coatings and the localization progress of fumed silica.