SAND AND GRAVEL

Industrial sand and gravel, often called silica, silica sand and quartz sand, includes sands and gravels with high silicon dioxide (SiO2) content. These sands are used for foundry, glassmaking, hydraulic fracturing (frac), and many other industrial applications. Production U.S. production of industrial sand and gravel increased by 30 percent to an estimated 97 Mt in 2022 from 74.6 Mt in 2021, and the value increased by 78 percent to an estimated $5.7 billion. The estimated average unit value of domestically produced industrial sand and gravel in 2022 was $58/t compared with $42.40/t in 2021. Industrial sand and gravel was produced by 122 companies from 201 operations in 32 states in 2022. The leading producing states were, in descending order of production, Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, California and Tennessee. Combined production from these states accounted for about 87 percent of total domestic sales. World production of industrial sand and gravel was estimated to be 380 Mt in 2022. The United States was the world’s leading producer and consumer of industrial sand and gravel based on estimated world production figures. Consumption U.S. apparent consumption of industrial sand and gravel was estimated to be 91 Mt in 2022, a 31 percent increase from that of the previous year. The industrial sand and gravel industry remained closely tied to the production and sale of frac sand. Industrial sand and gravel consumption decreased in recent years, primarily as a result of decreased oil and natural-gas drilling activity in North America. These decreases were exacerbated by restrictions imposed as the result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions resulted in a significant decline in consumption of petroleum products, which in turn prompted a decrease in demand for frac sand. In 2022, industrial sand and gravel consumption increased as demand for frac sand increased. Approximately 75 percent of the U.S. tonnage was used as hydraulic-fracturing sand and well-packing and cementing sand. Other uses were, in decreasing quantity of use, glass sand, foundry sand, wholegrain fillers for building products, filtration sand and recreational sand, which accounted for 19 percent, combined. Other minor uses were, in decreasing quantity of use, chemicals, abrasives, roofing granules, silicon and ferrosilicon, ceramics, fillers, filtration gravel, traction and metallurgic flux, which accounted for 3 percent, combined. Other unspecified uses accounted for 3 percent, combined. Foreign trade According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States remained a net exporter of industrial sand and gravel, shipping it to almost every region of the world. High global demand for U.S. industrial sand and gravel can be attributed to the high quality and advanced processing techniques used in the United States for many grades of industrial sand and gravel, meeting specifications for virtually any use. Imports of silica are generally of two types — small shipments of very high-purity silica, or a few large shipments of lower grade silica shipped only under special circumstances (for example, very low freight rates). Outlook The industrial sand and gravel industry continued to be concerned with safety and health regulations and environmental restrictions, especially those concerning crystalline silica exposure. Local shortages of industrial sand and gravel were expected to continue to increase owing to land development priorities, local zoning regulations and logistical issues, including ongoing development and permitting of operations producing hydraulic-fracturing sand. Increased efforts to reduce cost, emissions and the risk of exposure to crystalline silica have led to an increase of undried “wet sand” being sold or used as frac sand instead of conventional “dry sand.”

SAND AND GRAVEL

Authored by:
Robert C. Goodin

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