by Washed silica sand also known as industrial sand contains high levels of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and is used as a raw material and additive in various industrial processes. It is obtained through mining, processing and washing natural sand deposits to produce higher purity sand grains suitable for applications requiring high silicon dioxide content and low contaminant levels.
The Global washed silica sand market is estimated to be valued at US$ 18.56 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.6% over the forecast period 2024 to 2031.
Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the washed silica sand market are Unimin Corporation, Fairmount Minerals, US Silica Holdings, Inc., Emerge Energy Services LP, Badger Mining Corp, Hi-Crush Partners, Preferred Sands, Premier Silica, Pattison Sand, Sibelco, Minerali Industriali, Quarzwerke Group, Aggregate Industries & WOLFF & MÜLLER, VRX Silica Limited, Australian Silica Quartz Group Ltd, Adwan Chemical Industries Company, Refcast Corporation, Zillion Sawa Minerals Pvt. Ltd., TMM India, and Srinath Enterprises. The rapidly growing demand for washed silica sand across various end-use industries especially in construction, glassmaking and hydraulic fracturing is supporting the growth of key market players.
The global construction industry has seen progressive growth over the last few years with emerging economies emphasizing on infrastructure development projects. Washed silica sand Market size experiences widespread application in the construction industry being a key constituent in products such as concrete, mortars, plaster, asphalt and road pavements. The consistent growth of the construction sector is fueling the demand for washed silica sand.
Furthermore, with rising energy needs, the global oil & gas industry has been witnessing substantial expansion. Hydraulic fracturing activities have significantly increased worldwide for the extraction of oil and natural gas from shale formations. Washed silica sand is crucial in the hydraulic fracturing process that involves pumping of frac sand-water mixtures into shale rock formations. Therefore, increasing exploration and production (E&P) spending on unconventional oil & gas resources is driving consumption of high purity washed silica sand in hydraulic fracturing applications.
Market Key Trends
A major trend prevailing in the global washed silica sand market is the emergence of eco-friendly mining practices. With growing environmental concerns over silica sand mining and processing activities, market players are increasingly investing in sustainable mining technologies and processes to minimize ecological impact. They are implementing practices such as land reclamation programs, recycling of wastewater, and utilizing renewable energy sources. For instance, certain players have started solar powering their mining facilities to reduce carbon emissions. Such initiatives are helping create positive brand image and boost consumer confidence in washed silica sand products. This in turn is assisting market players to strengthen their market position and further expand consumer base worldwide.
Porter’s Analysis
Threat of new entrants: New players find it difficult to enter the market due to requirements of substantial capital investment to setup facilities and availability of raw materials.
Bargaining power of buyers: Buyers have moderate bargaining power due to availability of substitutes.
Bargaining power of suppliers: Suppliers have low to moderate bargaining power due to availability of raw materials sources.
Threat of new substitutes: Substitute materials like GCB or ceramic have limited threat due to properties like high brightness and low iron content.
Competitive rivalry: The market is highly competitive due to presence of numerous regional and global players.
Geographical Regions
Asia Pacific holds the major share of the washed silica sand market currently in terms of value due to growing construction activities in countries like China and India. Growing infrastructure development projects are driving the demand in the region.
Middle East and Africa is expected to be the fastest growing regional market during the forecast period owing to increasing oil & gas exploration and production activities. Initiatives toward industrialization and economic diversification in Gulf countries are fueling the market growth.
Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
