North America Will Need More Flat Glass Imports

North America will need more flat glass to meet the ever-growing needs of its architectural sector in the years to come, as the demand for it in both the United States, Canada and other regions is steadily growing. Despite the ongoing trade disputes and the decline of the U.S. dollar, the North American flat glass market is currently experiencing strong demand driven by construction, infrastructure development and a growing focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. 

According to a recent report of global research agency Consegic Business Intelligence, the North America architectural glass market was valued at $18.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $30.20 billion by 2032, with an annual growth rate of 6.3% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2032. 

Given that many countries in North America, including Canada, do not have domestic flat glass manufacturing, it’s likely that countries will consider near-shoring production and increasing float glass imports to meet demand. 

Many analysts believe the entire North American region will need more flat glass imports in the years to come to better meet its domestic needs. At the same time, due to current trade disputes, the supply chain is changing, even as imports are rising. 

Flat glass imports to North America rise amid tariff disputes 

According to Gilberto Garcia-Vazquez, chief economist at Datawheel, the team behind the Observatory of Economic Complexity, imports of float glass to the North American continent are steadily growing this year. “The U.S. is importing more float glass than it did a year ago, and from different sources,” says Garcia-Vazquez. “In the first five months of 2025, float glass imports totaled $106 million, a 58% increase compared to the same period in 2024.” 

According to his data, Vietnam and Mexico now dominate in glass imports to North America. “Vietnam, which shipped only $120,000 worth of float glass to the U.S. a year ago, has become the leading supplier with $31.6 million so far this year,” says Garcia-Vazquez. “Mexico, long a major source due to its proximity and trade preferences under [the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement], follows with $20.8 million, a 130% rise year over year. In terms of structure, the imports are also geographically concentrated. Ohio alone imported $32.7 million, followed by Pennsylvania ($15.4 million) and Michigan ($8.2 million), together accounting for more than half of the national total. These states are key manufacturing centers, likely linked to the construction and automotive industries.” 

He adds that in 2025, the U.S. is not only importing more float glass but it’s sourcing it from a reshuffled supplier landscape. 

A new supplier landscape supplies North American glass 

Garcia-Vazquez believes that U.S. trade measures are reshaping import patterns. According to him, shipments from the European Union declined by 19% in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The steepest decrease was for Germany, down 27% to $17.7 million, while Belgium’s exports to North America remained steady at just over $12 million. 

“China, facing ongoing Section 301 tariffs, saw float glass exports fall 9%, from $5.3 million to $4.8 million,” says Garcia-Vazquez. “Meanwhile, countries outside the scope of current duties have increased their presence. Turkey’s exports rose 67%, Japan’s by 54% and Vietnam’s surged. That increase from Vietnam seems to be filling the demand previously met by the EU and China. Unless existing tariffs are lifted or new ones are imposed on rising suppliers, this shift is likely to continue. For now, the trade data indicate a significant change in how the U.S. sources its flat glass—less from Germany and China, more from Vietnam and Mexico.” 

Adrian Edge, director of codes and regulatory affairs for Fenestration Canada, says that, in general, North America will need more glass. “Without considering Canada’s complete reliance on foreign float glass, the U.S., in rough numbers, is importing 20% to 25% of its float glass from Asia and Europe,” says Edge. “That provides a good market buffer for the U.S., but still leaves both the U.S. and Canada in a tough spot if we want to grow the glass market.” 

It is expected the EU will remain one of the major suppliers of float glass to the North American region in years to come, despite tariff wars.  

Frank Gimeno, an editor at Vidrioperfil, a Spanish glass industry paper and a leading EU analyst in the field of flat glass, says that despite this year’s decline, many EU glass suppliers in recent years have significantly strengthened their positions in the import markets of both the U.S. and Canada, planning a further acceleration of their expansion during the period of 2025 to 2026.  

“In 2024, exports of flat architectural glass from the EU to North America remained stable or saw slight growth, with demand driven by high value, sustainable building projects,” says Gimeno. “Spain is among the leading EU suppliers, with companies like Tvitec, based in Cubillos del Sil (León), exporting around 60% of their €180 million annual turnover to the U.S., Canada and Mexico. A prime example is the Two Manhattan West project in New York. Tvitec, together with its curved glass subsidiary Cricursa, supplied over 100,000 square meters of eco-efficient flat and curved glass for the BBVA headquarters, designed by SOM, which opened in early 2024.” 

According to Gimeno, EU suppliers generally consider North America a long-term, high potential export destination. And despite the recent increase of tariffs by the Trump administration against EU imports, Gimeno says that most flat glass contracts signed before and during 2024 (such as Two Manhattan West) have proceeded unaffected, as the associated lead times and procurement cycles were already underway. 

According to Gimeno and other EU suppliers, EU flat glass manufacturers continue to fulfill these existing agreements, while the diplomatic strain, while raising uncertainty, has not yet translated into significant new barriers to glass exports. However, the situation remains complex, as trade wars are ongoing.  

So far, several EU flat glass manufacturers, operating in the North American market, have criticized the U.S. protectionist tariff. Tvitec’s Carlos González says that while the U.S. market remains a priority for the company in terms of its growth potential, the protectionist tariffs currently in place are forcing the company to diversify its sales market. 

Similarly, Ana Martínez, from AGC Glass Spain, confirms their continued  

participation in U.S. projects, but called for diplomatic efforts to restore a stable commercial framework. Still, she believes shipments to the U.S. will continue, barring new tariff expansions or trade measure escalations. 

In the meantime, the North American market has always been a high priority for German suppliers, which continues to develop despite tariffs’ escalations.   

Hans Joachim Arnold, chairman of the German Flat Glass Association (Bundesverband Flachglas) says that he believes in the ability of German suppliers to fill the gap in the North American market. “German flat glass manufacturers hold a technologically leading position, particularly in high-quality specialty products such as insulating, safety or functional glass,” says Arnold. “Demand in the U.S. and Canada currently exceeds the regionally available production capacity, and Canada does not yet have any domestic flat glass production. That said, the mass glass market remains highly regional. Transport costs are disproportionately high compared to the product value, which is why international groups strategically place their production facilities near the markets they serve.” 

According to Arnold, popular exports to the North American market from German suppliers include: 

• premium, value-added glass solutions; 
• products for complex, demanding projects that benefit from supplier consulting expertise; 
• or glass to supplement short-term supply shortages due to local capacity limits. 

Jenni Heikkilä, executive director of The Finnish Association of Flat Glass, says that a number of Finnish suppliers are also interested in supplying the North American market this year. “I believe there is a lot of interest, but as far as I know, only three companies from Finland are exporting to U.S.,” she says. “Those glass products are high-quality glasses like laminated glass floors, skyscraper’s heated roof glasses.” 

In addition to the EU, Asian suppliers are also ready to cover part of the needs of North American manufacturers for float glass.  

Namit Goel, a senior analyst of Ken Research, an analyst agency, says that exports from Asian countries—including India, China, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Korea—to North America (under Harmonized System Code 7007) stayed mostly steady through 2024, averaging around 3,147 shipments per month with an export value of $20.99 million. There was a sharp rise in September 2024, reaching 3,237 shipments and $27.23 million, showing strong trade activity. However, by May 2025, exports dropped drastically; shipments fell to just 55 and the value dropped to $78,000, a decline of over 95%, indicating a major disruption.  

According to him, both European and Asian glass sectors are likely to be impacted by the new U.S. tariffs. Nine percent of the EU’s glass exports in 2023 went to the U.S., and India, Japan and South Korea are also actively supplying a large volume of fabricated and flat glass to North America.  

“These exports support key industries such as construction, automotive and electronics,” says Goel. “The imposition of tariffs could disrupt price competitiveness, impact container shipment cycles and reduce order volumes from U.S. buyers, particularly in value-added segments where Asia has built significant scale over the past decade.” 

Building capacity in North America 

Given that Canada has historically relied on the U.S. for its flat glass supply, it will also need to import more float glass despite a sharp growth in costs.  

“It’s roughly a 10% increase [in costs] at the start of the year, followed by another 25%,” says Fenestration Canada’s Edge. “The easy answer to whether I think costs will keep rising is yes. But a better question might be, ‘Does Canadian manufacturing have a choice in paying more?’ And the answer is, no. Not really.” 

In addition to imports, Edge believes it is important to North America to have four to five more full-scale float lines to deal with the float glass deficit by 2028, “which means permits and financing would have to be in place today.” 

In the meantime, representatives of a major U.S. float producer believe the increase of imports will not pose a threat to its position in the domestic market. 

“Guardian Glass has a strong domestic presence and solid capabilities,” says Vince Westerhof, vice president of sales, Guardian Glass North America. “We have strategically located domestic glass production facilities producing a diverse range of products, and a robust network across the United States,” he says. “These resources enable U.S. to deliver products efficiently. We remain committed to supporting our customers’ projects and creating value.”