RE:Low volumeNot really a surprise...let's put things in perspectives.
Production of fumed silica is around 275 000,00 TPY.
Or 275 000 000, of kg per year!
Mostly from Asia Pacific region.
And from many ( > 35 ) large producers worldwide.
Presently the largest producers are converting their large arc furnaces to biochar ( instead of coal) to produce " green silicon".
As far as the use of hydrogen chloride to make silane, it's recycled in closed loop process which mitigate the environmental impact.
This remind me of the astronomic number of torch sales hyped by another co just a last year...
GLTA