Global Silica Sand Market Driven By Major Applications in Glass, Foundry and Hydraulic Fracturing

Silica sand, also known as industrial sand, is one of the most common types of sands found in the world and serves as a primary component for numerous products. Although it is most commonly found in crystalline state, it occurs in amorphous forms as well. Silica sand is easily available and possesses many physical and chemical properties which includes high silica content, high strength, resistance to heat and chemical reactions, etc. due to which it finds well diversified applications across various industries. Silica sand has been in use since ancient times for making glass objects. Other applications of silica sand are in water filtration, industrial casting, sand blasting, adding texture to slick roads, sand finish in paints and coatings, etc. A recent application of silica sand has been in hydraulic fracturing where it is being increasingly used as a proppant due to its low cost as compared to other proppants.

The growth of the global silica sand market faced a setback due to the global economic crisis in 2009. This crisis led to a global decline in the demand for commercial silica products. However, as the market started to recover from 2010 onwards, the demand also improved in most of the end markets, specifically in glass and foundry. According to IMARC Group, the global silica sand production has grown at a CAGR of around 4.7% during 2008-2015 reaching 171 Million Tons in 2015.

 Glass Industry Represents the Largest End-User

There are five major end-use industries for silica sand - glass, foundry, hydraulic fracturing, filtration and abrasives. Glass currently represents the largest market accounting for more than one-third of the global silica sand consumption in volume terms. Foundry represents the second largest market accounting for one-third of the total consumption volumes followed by hydraulic fracturing, filtration and abrasives. Other applications like recreational products, paints etc. account for the remainder of the global silica sand demand.

United States represents the largest producer

The United States represents the largest producer of silica sand accounting for nearly one-third of the total global production in 2015. As the United States dominates the global market share, most of the key manufacturers are concentrated in this region. Other key producing regions include Italy, Germany, Turkey and Australia. On the basis of consumption, the Asia-Pacific region represents the biggest consumer of silica sand accounting for half of the total global consumption in 2015. The Asia Pacific region is followed by North America and Western Europe.

Market Forecast

The global silica sand market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% during 2016-2021 reaching a volume of 222 Million Tons by 2021. Rapid urbanisation, demand for silica sand in hydraulic fracturing, growing shale gas production and increasing demand in the construction industry will help the market to grow. Regionally, high growth is expected in North America, Latin America and Western Europe due to increasing hydraulic fracturing activities. On the other hand, growth rates are also likely to rise in the emerging markets such as India and China where the foundry and construction represent the booming sectors.

About IMARC Group: IMARC Group is a leading market research and consulting company that offers management strategy and market research worldwide. The company has done multiple projects on the silica sand industry, which has enabled the clients to successfully setup and expand their businesses. Some of the company’s offerings include:

• Market Research
• Plant setup
• Plant Expansion
• Marketing and sales
• Procurement and Distribution
• Innovation and Product Development

For more information, please visit: http://www.imarcgroup.com/silica-sand-manufacturing-plant