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It has become apparent in recent years that the ASEAN region has become an important hub for the manufacture of tableware glass. Aside from meeting regional demand, ASEAN-based tableware producers have established a significant presence as exporters of glass tableware products to European and American markets due to the low cost and high quality of their products.

Traditional tableware glass manufacturers from Indonesia and Thailand have dominated the market, however, in recent years, small-scale producers from Vietnam and the Philippines have gained attention in the regional and international markets.

Between 2011 and 2021, ASEAN’s GDP grew at an average annual rate of 4.4%. The region, whose population totals 660 million, had an aggregate economic output of about $3.2 trillion in 2021. ASEAN is, if considered as one entity, Asia’s third largest economy, and the fifth largest in the world after the US, China, Japan, and Germany. Taking these figures into consideration, it is only reasonable to assume that the region will continue to climb up the rankings.

Over on the European continent, the Turkish container glass industry has shown rapid growth. This remarkable growth has been attributed to a number of factors. One of the strongest contributors to the container glass industry in Turkey is the food and beverage sector. As of 2021, TurkStat estimates that there were 48,221 food processing and 605 beverage manufacturing enterprises in Turkey. The constant expansion of capacity by almost all container glass producers has resulted in an overcapacity of the domestic market. Consequently, Turkish container glass producers have been able to concentrate their efforts on export markets such as Europe and the Middle East, and in the last five years, the country has established itself as one of the largest exporters of container glass. With its enormous production capacity, high quality and experience, and prestigious projects around the globe, this is certainly an encouraging sign for a nation that is already among the top global glass producers.

This edition includes an exclusive interview with Alessandro Fenzi, CEO of Asian Glass, providing an overview of the company’s growth strategy, environmental initiatives, and future challenges. A family-owned company founded in 1941 in Milan, Italy, the Fenzi Group is a world leader in the supply of chemicals to the glass processing industry. This is an enlightening read that examines the processes that go into making a world-class company that has managed to maintain its leading position for over 80 years.

Enjoy the read.
Isaac Hamza