Flat Glass: 2001 Issued September 2002

MA327A(01)-1

Current 

Industrial

Reports

Current data are released electronically on Internet and 6.4 billion square feet of flat glass were 

for all individual surveys as they become avail- shipped. The reported value of shipments was 

able. Use: http://www.census.gov/mcd/. $2.1 billion. Automotive glass accounted for 

Individual reports can be accessed by choosing 26 percent of both production and shipments 

"Current Industrial Reports (CIR)," clicking on (in square footage) of flat glass for the year. 

"CIRs by Subsector;" then choose the survey of

interest. Follow the menu to view the PDF file In 2001, 5.0 billion square feet of flat glass were 

or to download the worksheet file (WK format) shipped out of float glass facilities for sale or 

to your personal computer. further fabrication within a company. These

external shipments accounted for 78.5 percent 

These data are also available on Internet of the total quantity of shipments and 72.2 perthrough the U.S. Department of Commerce cent of the total value of shipments. Exports 

and STAT-USA by subscription. The Internet reported by flat glass manufacturers amounted

address is: www.stat-usa.gov/. Follow the to 380 million square feet, 5.9 percent of their 

prompts to register. Also, you may call total shipments. 

202-482-1986 or 1-800-STAT-USA, for 

further information. For general CIR information, explanation of 

general terms and historical note, see the 

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS. For the year 2001, 6.4 appendix.

billion square feet of flat glass were produced 

Address inquiries concerning these data to Primary Goods Industries Branch, Manufacturing and Construction Division (MCD), Washington, DC 20233-6900, 

or call Tracy Fenwick, 301-457-1603.

For mail or fax copies of this publication, please contact the Information Services Center, MCD, Washington, DC 20233-6900, or call 301-457-4673.

U S C E N S U S B U R E A U U.S. Department of Commerce

 Economics and Statistics Administration

Helping You Make Informed Decisions U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Table 1. Summary of Flat Glass Shipments and Sales: 2001 and 2000 

 Shipments (includes Quantity

 quantity produced and produced 

Product description consumed within each Value of shipments and 

 company) consumed

Current Constant within each Inventory Producer

Total Total dollars dollars 1/ company (end of year) Price Index

(short tons) (1,000 sq ft) ($1,000) ($1,000) (1,000 sq ft) (1,000 sq ft) (1982=100.0)

2001

 Flat glass.................................................................................................. 5,260,040 6,380,598 2,090,593 2,177,701 1,329,047 886,516 96.0

Exports 2/.......................................................................................................... 344,512 379,542 140,434 146,285 (X) (X) 96.0

Outside customer sales 3/.................................................................................. 4,095,764 5,011,594 1,510,184 1,573,108 (X) (X) 96.0

2000

 Flat glass................................................................................................. 5,461,566 6,586,773 2,152,363 2,265,645 r / 1,313,511 893,485 95.0

Exports 2/......................................................................................................... 371,486 403,441 154,457 162,586 (X) (X) 95.0

Outside customer sales 3/............................................................................. 4,253,192 5,092,110 1,594,701 1,678,633 (X) (X) 95.0

 r/Revised by 5 percent or more from previously published data. X Not applicable. 

 1/Adjustments for price changes were made to the data using the producer price index for flat glass as published by the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics (BLS). 

 2/Exports reported by flat glass manufacturers only. 

 3/Shipments and sales to nonraw glass producing companies. 
Table 2a. Summary of Production, Shipments, and Inventories of Flat Glass: 2001 

 Shipments (includes Quantity

 quantity produced and produced

Product consumed within each and

code Product description Production company) consumed

No. within each Inventory

of Total Total Total Total company (end of year)

cos. (short tons) (1,000 sq ft) (short tons) (1,000 sq ft) (1,000 sq ft) (1,000 sq ft)

3272111 Flat glass..................................................................................................... 6 5,417,006 6,392,073 5,260,040 6,380,598 1,329,047 886,516

Automotive.............................................................................................................. (X) 1,238,447 1,673,067 1,218,065 1,649,710 897,156 290,267

 Standard greens/blue greens.............................................................................. (X) 555,730 840,776 550,221 838,388 (D) 111,287

3272111001 Less than 2.9 mm thick........................................................................................ 5 332,130 598,433 329,486 598,932 (D) 62,733

3272111006 2.9 mm or thicker...................................................................... 5 223,600 242,343 220,735 239,456 (D) 48,554

 High performance greens/blue greens/ 

 blues............................................................................................................ (X) 364,287 501,720 354,625 487,972 (D) 93,822

3272111011 Less than 2.9 mm thick..................................................................................... 3 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

3272111016 2.9 mm or thicker........................................................................................ 3 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

 Privacy (high performance uncoated 

 dark gray) and other automotive........................................................................... (X) 318,430 330,571 313,219 323,350 155,292 85,158

3272111021 Privacy (high performance uncoated 

 dark gray)....................................................................................................... 4 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

3272111026 Other automotive................................................................................................. 4 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

Nonautomotive............................................................................................................. (X) 4,178,559 4,719,006 4,041,975 4,730,888 431,891 596,249

 Pyrolytically coated................................................................................................. (X) 225,689 213,887 216,685 209,050 (D) 49,904

3272111031 Greens/blue greens/blues.................................................................................... 3 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

3272111036 All other nonautomotive pyrolytically 

 coated......................................................................................... 4 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

 Nonautomotive other than pyrolytically 

 coated: 

 Clear.................................................................................................................. (X) 3,558,644 4,151,176 3,436,983 4,178,090 414,922 429,370

3272111041 Less than 5.0 mm thick.................................................................................. 5 2,482,711 3,440,958 2,385,932 3,460,971 369,895 318,529

3272111046 5.0 mm or thicker............................................................................................. 5 1,075,933 710,218 1,051,051 717,119 45,027 110,841

 Greens/blue greens/blues..................................................................................... (X) 148,170 138,971 137,015 127,573 (D) 32,483

3272111051 Less than 5.0 mm thick................................................................................... 5 46,613 66,982 43,237 63,170 (D) 11,486

3272111056 5.0 mm or thicker............................................................................................... 5 101,557 71,989 93,778 64,403 (D) 20,997

 All bronze.............................................................................................................. (X) 97,286 82,239 96,119 81,587 (D) 32,781

3272111061 Less than 5.0 mm thick................................................................................ 5 23,383 29,071 21,211 27,836 (D) (D)

3272111066 5.0 mm or thicker............................................................................................ 4 73,903 53,168 74,908 53,751 (D) (D)

 All gray and other.............................................................................................. (X) 148,770 132,733 155,173 134,588 (D) 51,711

3272111071 All gray, less than 5.0 mm thick........................................................................ 5 44,325 56,499 43,366 53,424 (D) 20,153

3272111076 All gray, 5.0 mm or thicker.............................................................................. 5 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

3272111081 Other, less than 5.0 mm thick.......................................................................... 2 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

3272111086 Other, 5.0 mm or thicker...................................................................................... 3 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

3272115097 Heat-treated flat glass for nonautomotive 

 uses, treated in primary glass manufacturing

 plants 1/.................................................................................................. 3 318,501 355,316 295,218 351,605 (D) (D)

 D Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies. X Not applicable. 

 1/Glass reported in this category represents the portion of nonautomotive flat glass that has been heat treated. 

 Note: Data are limited to inventories at manufacturing establishments. 
Table 2b. Summary of Production, Shipments, and Inventories of Flat Glass: 2000 

 Shipments (includes Quantity

 quantity produced and produced

Product consumed within each and

code Product description Production company) consumed

No. within each Inventory

of Total Total Total Total company (end of year)

cos. (short tons) (1,000 sq ft) (short tons) (1,000 sq ft) (1,000 sq ft) (1,000 sq ft)

3272111 Flat glass..................................................................................................... 6 5,618,014 6,677,244 5,461,566 6,586,773 r / 1,313,511 893,485

Automotive.................................................................................................... (X) 1,377,065 1,813,287 1,351,129 1,804,043 858,225 274,412

 Standard greens/blue greens.................................................................................. (X) 664,907 959,602 671,530 975,615 (D) 109,788

3272111001 Less than 2.9 mm thick..................................................................................... 5 366,200 657,060 370,574 667,544 (D) 63,582

3272111006 2.9 mm or thicker.............................................................................................. 5 298,707 302,542 300,956 308,071 (D) 46,206

 High performance greens/blue greens/

 blues..................................................................................................................... (X) 364,107 489,465 353,936 487,722 (D) 83,454

3272111011 Less than 2.9 mm thick...................................................................................... 3 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

3272111016 2.9 mm or thicker............................................................................................... 3 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

 Privacy (high performance uncoated 

 dark gray) and other automotive ...................................................................... (X) 348,051 364,220 325,663 340,706 164,231 81,170

3272111021 Privacy (high performance uncoated 

 dark gray)......................................................................................................... 4 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

3272111026 Other automotive................................................................................................ 3 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

Nonautomotive........................................................................................................... (X) 4,240,949 4,863,957 4,110,437 4,782,730 455,286 619,073

 Pyrolytically coated.............................................................................................. (X) 223,194 214,033 212,645 207,301 (D) 46,128

3272111031 Greens/blue greens/blues.................................................................................... 3 25,485 16,994 29,579 20,733 (D) 5,507

3272111036 All other nonautomotive pyrolytically 

 coated.......................................................................................... 4 197,709 197,039 183,066 186,568 (D) 40,621

 Nonautomotive other than pyrolytically 

 coated: 

 Clear............................................................................................................... (X) 3,630,649 4,321,718 3,543,677 4,267,267 436,533 467,457

3272111041 Less than 5.0 mm thick................................................................................. 5 2,483,867 3,539,939 2,451,845 3,532,018 380,497 348,120

3272111046 5.0 mm or thicker.................................................................................... 5 1,146,782 781,779 1,091,832 735,249 56,036 119,337

 Greens/blue greens/blues............................................................................... (X) 118,666 102,164 120,819 107,281 (D) 21,668

3272111051 Less than 5.0 mm thick.............................................................................. 5 28,892 41,547 29,049 41,095 (D) 7,819

3272111056 5.0 mm or thicker......................................................................................... 5 89,774 60,617 91,770 66,186 (D) 13,849

 All bronze....................................................................................................... (X) 106,085 84,147 91,748 74,918 (D) 31,098

3272111061 Less than 5.0 mm thick................................................................................... 5 20,390 23,184 18,660 24,660 (D) 9,884

3272111066 5.0 mm or thicker........................................................................................... 5 85,695 60,963 73,088 50,258 (D) 21,214

 All gray and other.............................................................................................. (X) 162,355 141,895 141,548 125,963 (D) 52,722

3272111071 All gray, less than 5.0 mm thick................................................................... 5 43,339 55,303 45,769 56,409 (D) 16,814

3272111076 All gray, 5.0 mm or thicker............................................................................ 5 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

3272111081 Other, less than 5.0 mm thick......................................................................... 2 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

3272111086 Other, 5.0 mm or thicker.............................................................................. 2 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

3272111097 Heat-treated flat glass for nonautomotive 

 uses, treated in primary glass manufacturing

 plants 1/........................................................................................... 3 332,395 382,674 323,513 382,746 (D) (D)

 D Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies. r/Revised by 5 percent or more from previously published data. X Not applicable. 

 1/Glass reported in this category represents the portion of nonautomotive flat glass that has been heat treated. 

 Note: Data are limited to inventories at manufacturing establishments. 
Table 3. Value of Shipments, Exports, and Imports of Flat Glass: 2001 and 2000 

(Thousands of dollars) 

Exports of

domestic Percent of Imports for Percent

merchan- exports to consump- imports to

Product description Manufacturers' dise 2/ 3/ manu- tion 4/ Apparent apparent

shipments (value at facturers' (value at consump- consump-

 (f.o.b. plant) 1/ port) shipments port) tion 5/ tion

2001

Total flat glass....................................................................... 2,090,593 509,728 24.4 170,952 1,751,817 9.8

2000

Total flat glass....................................................................... 2,152,363 512,475 23.8 182,556 1,822,444 10.0

 1/Value of "Manufacturers' shipments" is in current dollars. 

 2/For a comparison of North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)-based product codes with Schedule B export codes and 

HTSUSA import codes, see Table 4. 

 3/Source: Census Bureau report EM 545, U.S. Exports. 

 4/Source: Census Bureau report IM 145, U.S. Imports for Consumption. 

 5/Apparent consumption is derived by subtracting exports from the total of manufacturers' shipments plus imports, including duty. 
Table 4. Comparison of North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)-Based Product Codes 

 with Schedule B Export Codes and HTSUSA Import Codes: 2001 

Product Export Import 

code Product description code 1/ code 2/

3272111 Glass--sheet, plate, float ............................................................................ 7003.12.0000 7003.12.0000

7003.19.0000 7003.19.0000

7004.20.0000 7004.20.1000

7004.20.2010

7004.20.2020

7004.20.5000

7004.90.0000 7004.90.0500

7004.90.1000

7004.90.1500

7004.90.2000

7004.90.2510

7004.90.2520

7004.90.2550

7004.90.3010

7004.90.3020

7004.90.3050

7004.90.4000

7004.90.5000

7005.10.0000 7005.10.4000

7005.10.8000

7005.21.0000 7005.21.1010

7005.21.1030

7005.21.2000

7005.29.0000 7005.29.0410

7005.29.0450

7005.29.0810

7005.29.0850

7005.29.1410

7005.29.1450

7005.29.1810

7005.29.1850

7005.29.2500

 1/Source: 2001 edition, Harmonized System-based Schedule B Statistical Classification of 

Domestic and Foreign Commodities Exported from the United States. 

 2/Source: Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, Annotated (2001). 
Current Industrial Reports A-1

Appendix. 

General CIR Survey Information, Explanation of General Terms

and Historical Note

GENERAL

The CIR program has been providing monthly,

quarterly, and annual measures of industrial activity for

many years. Since 1904, with its cotton and fats and oils

surveys, the CIR program has formed an essential part

of an integrated statistical system involving the quinquennial economic census, manufacturing sector, and

the annual survey of manufactures. The CIR surveys,

however, provide current statistics at a more detailed

product level than either of the other two statistical

programs.

The primary objective of the CIR program is to

produce timely, accurate data on production and

shipments of selected products. The data are used to

satisfy economic policy needs and for market analysis,

forecasting, and decision making in the private sector.

The product-level data generated by these surveys are

used extensively by individual firms, trade associations,

and market analysts in planning or recommending

marketing and legislative strategies, particularly if their

industry is significantly affected by foreign trade.

Although production and shipments information are the

two most common data items collected, the CIR

program collects other measures also such as

inventories, orders, and consumption. These surveys

measure manufacturing activity in important commodity

areas such as textiles and apparel, chemicals, primary

metals, computer and electronic components, industrial

equipment, aerospace equipment, and consumer

goods.

The CIR program uses a unified data collection,

processing, and publication system. The U.S. Census

Bureau updates the survey panels for most reports

annually and reconciles the estimates to the results of

the broader-based annual survey of manufactures and

the economic census, manufacturing sector. The manufacturing sector provides a complete list of all

producers of the products covered by the CIR program

and serves as the primary source for CIR sampling.

Where a small number of producers exist, CIR surveys

cover all known producers of a product. However, when

the number of producers is too large, cutoff and

random sampling techniques are used. Surveys are

continually reviewed and modified to provide the most

up-to-date information on products produced. The CIR

program includes a group of mandatory and voluntary

surveys. Typically the monthly and quarterly surveys are

conducted on a voluntary basis. Those companies that

choose not to respond to the voluntary surveys are

required to submit a mandatory annual counterpart

corresponding to the more frequent survey.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION

SYSTEM (NAICS), 1997 

The adoption of the North American Industry

Classification System (NAICS) in the 1997 Economic

Census has had a major impact on the comparability of

current and historic data. Approximately half of the

industries in the manufacturing sector of NAICS do not

have comparable industries in the Standard Industrial

Classification (SIC) system that was used in the past.

While most of the change affecting the

manufacturing sector was change within the sector,

some industries left manufacturing and others came into

manufacturing. Prominent among those that left

manufacturing are logging and portions of publishing.

Prominent among the industries that came into the

manufacturing sector are bakeries, candy stores where

candy is made on the premises, custom tailors, makers

of custom draperies, and tire retreading. The net effect

of the classification changes are such that if the 1997

value of shipments data for all manufacturers were

tabulated on an SIC basis, it would be approximately 3

percent higher.

Listed below are the NAICS sectors:

21 Mining

22 Utilities

23 Construction

31-33 Manufacturing

42 Wholesale Trade

44-45 Retail Trade

48-49 Transportation and Warehousing

51 Information

52 Finance and Insurance

53 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

54 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

55 Management of Companies and Enterprises

56 Administrative and Support and Waste Management

and Remediation Services 

61 Educational Services

62 Health Care and Social Assistance

71 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

72 Accommodation and Food Services

81 Other Services (except Public Administration)

(Not listed above are the Agriculture, Forestry,

Fishing, and Hunting sector (NAICS 11), partially covered

by the census of agriculture conducted by the U.S.

Department of Agriculture, and the Public

Administration sector (NAICS 92), covered by the census

of governments conducted by the Census Bureau.)
Current Industrial Reports A-2

The 20 NAICS sectors are subdivided into 96

subsectors (three-digit codes), 313 industry groups

(four-digit codes), and, as implemented in the United

States, 1170 industries (five- and six-digit codes).

FUNDING

The Census Bureau funds most of the surveys.

However, a number of surveys are paid for either fully

or partially by other Federal Government agencies or

private trade associations. A few surveys are mandated,

but all are authorized by Title 13 of the United States

Code.

RELIABILITY OF DATA

Survey error may result from several sources

including the inability to obtain information about all

cases in the survey, response errors, definitional

difficulties, differences in the interpretation of

questions, mistakes in recording or coding the reported

data, and other errors of collection, response,

coverage, and estimation. These nonsampling errors

also occur in complete censuses. Although no direct

measurement of the biases due to these nonsampling

errors has been obtained, precautionary steps were

taken in all phases of the collection, processing, and

tabulation of the data in an effort to minimize their

influence.

A major source of bias in the published estimates is

the imputing of data for nonrespondents, for late

reporters, and for data that fail logic edits. Missing

figures are imputed based on period-to-period

movements shown by reporting firms. A figure is

considered to be an impute if the value was not directly

reported on the questionnaire, directly derived from

other reported items, directly available from

supplemental sources, or obtained from the respondent

during the analytical review phase. Imputation generally

is limited to a maximum of 10 percent for any one data

cell. Figures with imputation rates greater than 10

percent are suppressed or footnoted. The imputation

rate is not an explicit indicator of the potential error in

published figures due to nonresponse, because the

actual yearly movements for nonrespondents may or

may not closely agree with the imputed movements.

The range of difference between the actual and

imputed figures is assumed to be small. The degree of 

uncertainty regarding the accuracy of the published data

increases as the percentage of imputation increases.

Figures with imputation rates above 10 percent should

be used with caution.

DATA REVISIONS

Statistics for previous years may be revised as the

result of corrected figures from respondents, late

reports for which imputations were originally made, or

other corrections. Data that have been revised by more

than 5 percent from previously published data are

indicated by footnotes.

DISCLOSURE

The Census Bureau collects the CIR data under the

authority of Title 13, United States Code, which

specifies that the information can only be used for

statistical purposes and cannot be published or released

in any manner that would identify a person, household,

or establishment. "D" indicates that data in the cell have

been suppressed to avoid disclosure of information

pertaining to individual companies.

EXPLANATION OF GENERAL TERMS

Capacity. The maximum quantity of a product that can

be produced in a plant in 1 day if operating for 24

hours. Includes the capacity of idle plants until the plant

is reported to be destroyed, dismantled, or abandoned.

Consumption. Materials used in producing or

processing a product or otherwise removing the

product from the inventory.

Exports. Includes all types of products shipped to

foreign countries, or to agents or exporters for

reshipment to foreign countries.

Gross shipments. The quantity or value of physical

shipments from domestic establishments of all products

sold, transferred to other establishments of the same

company, or shipped on consignment, whether for

domestic or export sale or use. Shipments of products

purchased for resale are omitted. Shipments of

products made under toll arrangements are included.

Interplant transfers. Shipments to other domestic

plants within a company for further assembly,

fabrication, or manufacture.

Inventories. The quantity or value of finished goods,

work in progress, and materials on hand.

Machinery in place. The number of machines of a

particular type in place as of a particular date whether

the machinery was used for production, prototype, or

sampling, or was idle. Machinery in place includes all

machinery set up in operating positions.

Net receipts. Derived by subtracting the materials held

at the end of the previous month from the sum of

materials used during the current month.

Production. The total volume of products produced,

including: products sold; products transferred or added

to inventory after adjustments for breakage, shrinkage,

and obsolescence, plus any other inventory adjustment;

and products that undergo further manufacture at the

same establishment. 

Quantities produced and consumed. Quantities of

each type of product produced by a company for

internal consumption within that same company.
Current Industrial Reports A-3

Quantity and value of new orders. The sales value

of orders received during the current reporting period

for products and services to be delivered immediately

or at some future date. Also represents the net sales

value of contract change documents that increase or

decrease the sales value of the orders to which they are 

related, when the parties concerned are in substantial

agreement as to the amount involved. Included as

orders are only those that are supported by binding

legal documents such as signed contracts or letter

contracts.

Quantity and value of shipments. The figures on

quantity and value of shipments represent physical

shipments of all products sold, transferred to other

establishments of the same company, or shipped on

consignment, whether for domestic or export sale. The

value represents the net sales price, f.o.b. plant, to the

customer or branch to which the products are shipped,

net of discounts, allowances, freight charges, and 

returns. Shipments to a company's own branches are

assigned the same value as comparable appropriate 

allocation of company overhead and profit. Products

bought and resold without further manufacture are

excluded.

Stocks. Total quantity of ending finished inventory.

Unfilled orders (backlog). Calculated by adding net

new orders and subtracting net sales from the backlog

at the end of the preceding year.

HISTORICAL NOTE

Data on flat glass have been collected by the

Census Bureau since 1957. Historical data may be

obtained from Current Industrial Reports available at

your local Federal Depository Library.