Glass & Glass Product Manufacturers

The 1,318 glass manufacturers in the US produce glass products, including flat glass, containers, glassware, housewares, and specialty glass, and process glass via coating, laminating, tempering, and shaping to give the glass specified or regulated properties. The industry is concentrated with the 20 largest firms controlling 65% of revenue.

Volatile Energy Costs

Glass manufacturing is an energy-intensive activity and fluctuations in the price of natural gas and other fuels can have a significant impact on operating costs.

Recycled Raw Materials

Manufacturers can use cullet (recycled glass) to make new glass products while reducing energy costs and emissions.

Sep 30, 2026 - Trade Dispute Impacting Bottle Sales

• The US-Canada trade dispute is putting added pressure on North American glass container manufacturers, according to a September statement from the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI). Tariffs and restrictions on wine and spirits have reduced alcohol sales between the two countries, directly cutting demand for glass bottles. According to the GPI, US glass plant shipments to the spirits market are down 11% year to date, while wine bottle shipments are down 15%. At the same time, some beverage brands facing higher costs for North American bottles are temporarily turning to Asian suppliers, and imports of 750mL glass bottles from China have risen sharply. The group warns that these short-term sourcing shifts could become permanent, weakening domestic glass manufacturing and investment. The GPI is urging the US and Canada to resolve the dispute, restore cross-border alcohol sales, and return to tariff-free trade under USMCA.
• Non-profit ResponsibleGlass has released a first draft of what could become the glass industry's first global sustainability standard, establishing a common framework for responsible sourcing, emissions reduction, environmental reporting, worker welfare, and product circularity, Glass International reported in July. The proposed certification would require independent audits and standardized reporting of carbon emissions, recycled content, and supply chain practices, making sustainability performance easier for customers to compare across manufacturers. If adopted, the standard would likely increase compliance, auditing, and reporting costs for glass and glass product manufacturers while encouraging greater use of recycled glass, responsibly sourced raw materials, and lower-carbon production methods. Certified manufacturers could gain a competitive edge with customers in construction, automotive, packaging, and other industries that increasingly prioritize verified environmental performance and transparent supply chains. Industry feedback will inform an updated standard expected to be published at the start of 2027.
• Cybersecurity is an emerging threat to glass industries, USGlass Magazine reports. The glass and glazing industries, along with the broader manufacturing sector, are top targets for cyberattacks, driven by valuable intellectual property, reliance on legacy systems, and the high cost of downtime, according to a 2026 IBM X-Force report. That’s because many firms lack sufficient cybersecurity investment and operate a mix of outdated and modern technologies, increasing vulnerabilities. Attackers exploit this, often using stolen credentials, phishing, or exposed remote services, to gain access and move laterally into operational systems. Common weaknesses include poor integration between IT and operational technology (OT), weak identity and access controls, inadequate backups, and lack of disaster recovery plans. These gaps make ransomware especially effective, as production disruptions quickly translate into financial losses. To reduce risk, experts emphasize integrating OT into cybersecurity programs, strengthening authentication, modernizing systems, and developing continuity plans.
• Producer prices for glass and glass product manufacturers hit another new high in August, up 4.5% compared to a year ago, after rising 3.3% in the previous August-to-August annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Rising energy costs, tariffs, wages, and other factors are contributing to persistent cost inflation, while demand for glass and glass products has remained resilient enough to support price increases. Employment by the glass and glass product manufacturers continues to fall: down 4.4% year over year in July, while the average wage at nonmetallic mineral product manufacturers, which includes makers of glass and glass products, rose 3.7% YoY in August to a new high of $29.73 per hour, BLS data show.

Industry size & Structure

A typical glass and glass product manufacturer operates out of a single location, employs 57 workers, and generates about $21.7 million annually.

• The glass and glass product manufacturing industry comprises about 1,320 companies, employing about 77,300 workers and generating about $28.6 billion annually.
• The average manufacturer of other blown or pressed glass operates out of a single location, employs about 32 workers, and generates $9 million annually.
• The average container manufacturer operates out of 1-2 locations, employs about 183 workers, and generates about $121 million annually.
• The industry is concentrated with the 20 largest firms controlling 65% of revenue.
• About 74% of firms have fewer than 20 employees.
• Large US companies include O-I Glass, Corning, Anchor Hocking, Apogee, and American Fiber Green Products. Some large companies operate internationally.