Silica & Glass Briefing, 11 September 2026: UK Duties on Chinese Containers as Majan Glass Halts in Oman
A trade-policy week. The UK imposed provisional anti-dumping duties of 24.65–52.97 % on glass containers from China with effect from 9 September, the European Commission published a Public Procurement Act proposal that changes how flat glass is scored in public tenders, and Majan Glass halted operations in Oman.
The UK imposed provisional anti-dumping duties of 24.65–52.97 % on glass containers imported from China, effective 9 September. British Glass welcomed the decision; a parallel case on Turkish imports is still pending.
The European Commission's Public Procurement Act proposal, published 9 September, requires quality and environmental criteria to carry at least 30 % of award points and allows tenders to be restricted to EU operators or to favour EU-origin content — across a market worth about 15 % of EU GDP.
Majan Glass halted operations in Oman at short notice. The company attributed the stoppage to the ongoing regional conflict and the wider glass-sector downturn.
Markets & Prices
The UK imposed provisional anti-dumping duties of 24.65–52.97 % on glass containers imported from China, effective 9 September. British Glass welcomed the decision as addressing sustained import pressure on UK producers. A parallel decision on Turkish container imports is still pending.
Majan Glass stopped operations in Oman, with workers informed at short notice. The company attributed the halt to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the broader downturn in the glass sector — the second demand-side casualty in the region this year.
Solar glass prices turned higher after six consecutive monthly declines. Unified listed prices took effect on 1 September at RMB 10.5/m² for 2.0 mm single-coated and RMB 17–19/m² for 3.2 mm, following a fall in Chinese operating capacity from 89,700 t/d to 75,800 t/d driven by accelerated cold repairs. Both specifications remain below their January levels.
Carrying over from the prior weekend, Stoelzle Glass USA made 200 temporary layoffs at Monaca, Pennsylvania on 4 September, tied to a furnace rebuild — a useful read on North American container demand alongside this week's trade actions.
No dated silica sand price commentary surfaced in the window — the searchable material was evergreen vendor market-report pages. The Omani halt and the Chinese cold repairs are the week's supply signal.
Technology & Innovation
NorthGlass's high-temperature electric kiln drew national think-tank and investment attention in China. The company describes a three-layer single-chamber roller design with AI temperature control, claiming more than 60 % lower energy use than gas-fired equivalents at 0.78 kWh/kg and yield above 95 %, and positions it for provinces with abundant wind and solar generation.
Glass Technology Services opened its new Innovation Hub in Sheffield, offering workspace and technical expertise for materials and manufacturing development. First reported at the start of the month, it was covered again this week.
Uniglass launched an EVA laminating solution which it says lets fabricators convert standard glass into specialty laminated products without a full autoclave line.
A quiet week otherwise: most technical output was trade-show positioning ahead of glasstec in October and GlassBuild America, and is left out here.
Regulation & Sustainability
The European Commission published its Public Procurement Act proposal on 9 September, replacing three existing directives. Quality and environmental criteria must account for at least 30 % of award points, and tenders may be restricted to EU operators or favour EU-origin content. Flat glass stands to gain where performance is scored against lowest-cost selection; public procurement is about 15 % of EU GDP.
The UK Glass & Glazing Collective took five asks to Parliament on 10 September: a competitive net-zero transition, levelling energy and investment conditions, packaging EPR reform, retrofit-driven demand for UK glazing, and stronger recycling legislation. The sector cited 19 sites, about 6,000 workers, £2.3bn turnover and £750m GVA.
Glass for Europe joined a European Commission DG ENER roundtable on energy policy on 9 September. Separately, PRODCOM reclassification changes now affect several flat glass product codes — a reporting change for anyone tracking trade statistics on those lines.
Canada's National Building Code brings new SHGCt requirements, covered in an FGIA Fall Conference panel. Designers face tighter solar-gain limits on glazing.
Silicosis: no new crystalline-silica rulemaking landed this week. California's engineered-stone petition from May remains the live thread.
Companies & Projects
Forel North America expanded its Canadian operations, relocating to a larger facility in the Greater Toronto Area.
Vitro Architectural Glass promoted Andre Kenstowicz to international sales director, broadening their remit.
NorthGlass took two top honours at the 2026 Glass Magazine Awards for architectural projects.
GIMAV launched "Italian glassWAYS", a coordinated effort to present the Italian glass machinery sector as a single system at international trade fairs.
Just outside the window but worth flagging: O-I Glass committed capital to its Oklahoma plant on 1 September while Vetropack dismantled a melting furnace on 2 September — the continuing two-speed picture in container glass.