In late October 2026, China’s precipitated silica industry is undergoing production process transformation. Projects for biomass-based precipitated silica made from agricultural and forestry solid waste such as rice husk ash are launched in batches, releasing steady green and low-carbon capacity. Carbon footprint indicators have gradually become core evaluation criteria for downstream buyers at home and abroad. Industry monitoring data shows standard conventional precipitated silica maintains ex-factory quotations within 6370-6450 CNY per ton, lacking upward price momentum. Market transactions are dominated by demand-based procurement. Downstream sectors including traditional shoe materials and ordinary rubber miscellaneous parts suffer from weak orders. Enterprises face persistent pressure on capital turnover and generally adopt hand-to-mouth purchasing strategies to strictly control inventory scale. Traders stay cautious and are reluctant to stock spot goods. Market transactions mainly rely on long-term framework orders from regular clients, and there is considerable bargaining room for sporadic small orders. Regional market divergence remains obvious. Traditional production areas in East China have abundant supply and fierce competition. Restricted by raw material transportation and energy consumption quotas, spot transaction prices in Southwest and Central China are slightly higher. Most traditional precipitated silica manufacturers adjust operating rates on demand, cut production to reduce inventories and lower the occupation of working capital.

　　On the supply side, the supply logic of the precipitated silica industry has shifted from simple capacity expansion to green capacity upgrading. Multiple new rice husk ash-based precipitated silica projects have entered trial production and formal operation. Using agricultural waste as silicon source greatly reduces the full-life-cycle carbon emission of products, and some projects can realize carbon-negative production. Compared with traditional precipitation methods, the biomass route features prominent low-carbon footprint advantages and stable raw material procurement costs. Supporting waste heat utilization also reduces purchased energy consumption. Supervision over environmental protection, energy consumption and carbon emissions keeps tightening. Old high-energy and high-emission precipitated silica production lines are continuously restricted, and inefficient backward capacity speeds up market exit. Fluctuations in the cost of sodium silicate, sulfuric acid and electricity keep squeezing profit margins of conventional standard grades, pushing traditional manufacturers to develop biomass processes or high-end modified products. Leading enterprises actively carry out carbon footprint accounting and third-party certification of products, and provide matching carbon footprint reports to meet green procurement requirements of overseas clients. The localization of fumed silica keeps moving forward, as enterprises continuously make breakthroughs in surface modification technology and narrow the performance gap with imported products.

　　On the demand side, the trend of green procurement is gradually transmitted to the precipitated silica consumption market. Leading enterprises in tire, organosilicon, coating and other industries have established green access lists for raw materials, prioritizing the purchase of precipitated silica products with low carbon footprints. Demand for biomass high-dispersion precipitated silica rises in the new energy tire track. To meet overseas carbon tariff and emission regulations, tire manufacturers take carbon footprint as one of the assessment indicators for raw materials. In the organosilicon sector, low-carbon fumed silica acts as reinforcing filler for silicone rubber, and its orders steadily increase in photovoltaic sealing, new energy electronic potting projects. In niche markets such as coatings, adhesives, cosmetic polishing and pharmaceutical carriers, inquiries for low-carbon modified precipitated silica keep rising. Sensitive to costs, traditional rubber and shoe-making sectors still mainly purchase ordinary precipitated silica with flat low-level demand. Carbon black remains at high price levels, increasing rubber product manufacturers’ willingness to replace fillers, and low-carbon precipitated silica gains stronger comprehensive competitiveness in substitution schemes.

　　In foreign trade, carbon footprint has become a critical threshold for export orders. With deepened implementation of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, precipitated silica supporting tires and rubber products exported to Europe needs complete carbon footprint certification. Benefiting from low-carbon advantages, domestic biomass-based precipitated silica receives growing inquiries from overseas tire and material purchasers, and European and Southeast Asian clients carry out more sample testing. Exports of conventional ordinary precipitated silica face pressure. Apart from low-price competition from local manufacturers in Southeast Asia, extra costs brought by carbon tariffs weaken export competitiveness. Fluctuations in international ocean freight and exchange rates bring uncertainties. Foreign trade enterprises are more prudent when accepting large long-term orders and shorten quotation cycles. Partial import dependence still exists for high-end specialty precipitated silica for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use. Domestic enterprises keep tackling purification and surface modification technologies, and import substitution of high-end grades moves forward steadily.

　　Market outlook: In the short run, conventional precipitated silica in China will fluctuate weakly and stably with slow inventory digestion, while demand for low-carbon biomass precipitated silica and high-end modified specialty precipitated silica will keep improving. In the medium and long term, carbon control policies, green procurement of downstream brands and overseas carbon tariffs will continuously promote technological iteration of the industry. Future industrial competition will not only focus on basic indicators such as particle size and dispersibility. Carbon footprint and full-life-cycle environmental performance will become important dimensions of competition. Leading enterprises equipped with biomass processes, green power supply and carbon certifications will keep expanding their advantages, while traditional small and medium manufacturers with high energy consumption will face mounting survival pressure. Follow-up attention should be paid to the commissioning progress of new biomass precipitated silica projects, carbon footprint certification policies, and changes in green procurement standards of downstream tire and new material manufacturers.