Although limiting production policies continued to be issued frequently at all levels of government in 2013, little has changed and the situation of overcapacity in the Chinese float glass market has intensified. This is mainly due to construction of new float lines in some companies that have now been completed more quickly, as companies worry about potentially compulsory requirements and policies that will limit output in 2014. For example, three new float lines were added in January 2014. According to estimates, 245 float lines with melting capacity of 156,630/tpd are in operation. 48 float lines with melting capacity of 34,500/tpd will be constructed in 2014. It is understood that in 2013, capacity utilisation only ran at 73%. Natural gas, coal and petroleum coke are still the main fuels for flat glass industry in China, accounting for around 83%. The remainder utilise coke tar, heavy oil, or COG.
