Welcome to the fifth issue of Asian Glass for 2026. 

Energy costs have become difficult to ignore in almost any discussion about glass manufacturing. The disruption to fuel supplies and shipping routes in the Middle East has added to pressures already facing producers, while uncertainty over demand and trading conditions continues to complicate investment decisions. Yet there is still plenty happening across the industry, especially in technology, processing and higher-performance glass products. 

The Middle East provides a striking example of the difficulties manufacturers face. Yogender Singh Malik examines container glass production across the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Syria, where 15 producers account for approximately 4,000 tonnes per day of installed capacity. Demand from food and beverage markets remains important, but regional disruption has taken its toll. Rising costs and weaker margins are affecting established producers, even as further investment is being considered elsewhere. 

Rohan Gunasekera approaches the energy question from another direction. His feature on insulated glass units looks at how rising energy costs are strengthening demand for better-performing glazing across Asia. Reducing the energy needed to cool buildings matters more each year, particularly in Southeast Asia. The difficulty is that producing and transporting these units is also becoming more expensive. 

In his second article, Rohan examines what software can do for glassmakers. Production planning, process monitoring and predictive maintenance may not attract the attention given to new furnaces and production lines, but they can make a substantial difference to operating costs. For manufacturers working with expensive equipment expected to last decades, that matters. 

Our Country Focus takes us to Algeria. Yogender charts the development of its flat and container glass industries, including the growth of Mediterranean Float Glass, whose two production lines have a combined capacity of 1,400 tonnes per day. Access to raw materials and regional markets has helped Algeria move beyond its domestic market to become an exporter to neighbouring countries and Europe. The question now is how far that growth can be sustained. 

We also have two interviews in this edition. Matteo Padovan, Managing Director of Fenzi Group, discusses sustainability, digitalisation and the changing requirements of glass processors. One point comes through clearly: environmental credentials and new technology must be backed by products that perform reliably over their working lives. He also considers how stronger supplier relationships and more resilient supply chains can help manufacturers manage uncertainty without compromising quality. 

In Industry Voices, Dr Christoph Hermanns, Chairman of the VDMA Forum Glass Technology, offers the machinery sector’s perspective. He identifies India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia as promising markets, while discussing the importance of connected production, energy efficiency and closer cooperation between equipment suppliers and manufacturers. 

There is a recurring question across these articles: how much more can manufacturers achieve with the capacity, equipment and resources they already have? For many, that may be just as important as deciding where to invest next. 

Enjoy the issue.