Silica sand, sometimes referred to as quartz sand, white sand, or industrial sand, is one of the sands that is most frequently found worldwide. In the processes of metallurgy and glassmaking, industrial silica sand is essential. Many advantages, including high strength, high silica content, and superior resistance to heat and chemical reactions, can be obtained from the use of industrial silica sand.
Global Industrial Silica Sand Market Driving Factors and Challenges
The glass industry is the primary consumer of industrial silica sand, with China and India driving the demand. Silica sand is also essential in the booming construction and foundry sectors in the Asia Pacific region. Glass containers, known for preserving product quality, come in various colours and sizes, catering to market needs. With growth expected in the packaging and pharmaceutical industries, the glass industry is likely to thrive, benefiting from its eco-friendliness and recyclability, which could lead to greater demand for industrial silica sand.
Additionally, industrial silica sand has a long history of purifying water, particularly after Cholera outbreaks led to water regulation. It's used in water filtration processes, removing solids and impurities as water passes through. This versatile material finds applications in wastewater treatment, swimming pools, brewing, paper processing, chemical processing, and power generation. The global water filtration market, especially in the Asia Pacific, is thriving due to factors like population growth, technological advancements, increased awareness of environmental concerns, and investments in water treatment infrastructure. Ongoing research and development in water filtration methods are driving global demand for silica and sand.
However, the unpredictability of sand supplies, price volatility, and uneven quality provide the building sector with a host of difficulties. As a result, sand-free plasters and manufactured sand (M-Sand), alternatives to conventional sand, are becoming more and more popular. The need for efficient methods of producing M-Sand is increasing as environmental restrictions become more stringent as a result of the rapid depletion of riverbeds. Sand-free plasters simplify the plastering procedure, cut labour expenses, and minimise waste.
They are a good substitute for silica sand. The use of these alternatives in construction could impede the expansion of the global market for silica sand, especially in developing countries that are experiencing urbanisation. Moreover, a significant obstacle to the expansion of the industrial silica sand market would be the manufacturers' extreme pricing pressure and changes in raw material prices. The industrial silica sand market development rate would be further disrupted by the surge in demand for sand-free construction projects and illegal sand mining. The potential for growth will be further limited in the underdeveloped areas by a weak distribution network.
Impact of COVID-19 on Global Industrial Silica Sand Market
COVID-19 is already having an impact on the world at large, and this will have a big effect on the industrial silica industry. Global economic impact from COVID-19 might be threefold: it could disrupt markets and supply chains, directly impact demand and production, and have a financial effect on financial markets and enterprises. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused a major supply chain slowdown, stock market volatility, falling business confidence, growing panic among the populace, restaurants closing, all indoor events restricted, over forty countries declaring states of emergency, flight cancellations, travel bans, and quarantines, as well as uncertainty about the future.
Industrial Silica Sand Market Key Players:
The market study provides market data by competitive landscape, revenue analysis, market segments and detailed analysis of key market players such as; Aggregate Industries, Badger Mining Corporation, Brogardsand, Emerge Energy Services LP, Fairmount Minerals, Hi-Crush Partners, Pattison Sand, Preferred Sands, Premier Silica, Quarzwerke Group, SAMIN, Sibelco, Strobel Quarzsand GmbH, U.S. Silica, Unimin Corporation, Others.
Global Industrial Silica Sand Market Segmentation:
By Type: Based on the Type, Global Industrial Silica Sand Market is segmented as; Potassium Silicate, Sodium Silicate.
By Particle Size: Based on the Particle Size, Global Industrial Silica Sand Market is segmented as; Less than 40 Mesh, 40-100 Mesh, Greater than 100 Mesh.
By Application: Based on the Application, Global Industrial Silica Sand Market is segmented as; Building & Construction, Construction Additives, Filter Media, Foundry, Glass Industry, Hydraulic Fracturing, Metal Casting.
By End-Use: Based on the End-Use, Global Industrial Silica Sand Market is segmented as; Building & Construction, Foundry, Glass.
By Region: This research also includes data for North America, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa and Europe.
This study also encompasses various drivers and restraining factors of this market for the forecast period. Various growth opportunities are also discussed in the report.