Silica sands obtained after the washing process find wide applications in glassmaking, hydraulic fracturing, and filtration owing to their high silica content of around 96-99% SiO2. Rising demand for glass from the construction industry and applications in hydraulic fracturing are some of the key factors driving the demand for washed silica sand.
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 increasing demand for glass from the construction industry has been a major factor driving the growth of the washed silica sand market. Key manufacturers are focusing on expanding their production capacities and geographical presence to cater to the rising demand across regions such as Asia Pacific and North America.
Market drivers
The major market driver for Washed silica sand Market size is the increasing construction activities worldwide. Silica sands find wide application in the manufacture of flat glass for windows, containers, mirrors, and other construction materials. According to the Global Construction 2030 report, the global construction industry is projected to grow by 85% to hit USD 15.5 trillion by 2030. Rapid urbanization and infrastructure development projects are expected to drive demand for construction materials including glass, thereby augmenting market growth of washed silica sand over the forecast period.
Due to geopolitical uncertainties and ongoing conflicts across regions, the washed silica sand market is expected to face supply chain disruptions and price volatility during the forecast period from 2024 to 2031. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has exacerbated existing supply challenges by disrupting trade routes between Eastern Europe and key markets in Western Europe and North America. This has impacted the flow of washed silica sand, which is an essential raw material for various industries including glass, chemicals, foundry, construction, and ceramics.
Producing regions like Ukraine, Russia, and other Eastern European countries contributed significantly towards global washed silica sand supplies prior to the war. The conflict has hampered mining and export activities from these geo-politically important regions. As a result, washed silica sand prices have surged in key import-reliant markets across North America and Western Europe. suppliers are grappling with challenges to reliable alternative sourcing and logistics on account of sanctions and counter sanctions. This has negatively impacted overall market growth prospects for washed silica sand during the assessment period. Moving forward, market players will need to explore diversifying supply sources and establishing long term strategic partnerships to mitigate geopolitical risks.
In terms of regional consumption, North America currently accounts for the largest share of the global washed silica sand market in terms of value. The region contributes over 35% to the overall market revenue led by substantial demand from end-use industries such as hydraulic fracturing, construction, glass manufacturing etc. The Asia Pacific region, on the other hand, represents the fastest growing regional market on account of growing construction and infrastructure development activities across China, India and Southeast Asian countries. Emerging economies in the region are expected to driving incremental growth opportunities for washed silica sand during the forecast period.
The current geopolitical environment poses multi-pronged challenges for the washed silica sand market across different parts of the globe. Supply disruptions can strain geographically concentrated consumption centers, driving up costs. While diversifying supply networks can help mitigate political risks, long term demand stability also requires addressing sustainability issues. Overall, tackling socio-political conflicts and ensuring responsible mineral extraction will be crucial for the washed silica sand industry to achieve its projected growth trajectory globally.
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