Silica Sand Market Report 2026

The silica sand market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $20.08 billion in 2025 to $21.46 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of glass manufacturing industry, rising construction activities, increasing foundry production, expansion of filtration systems, demand from chemical and paint industries.

The silica sand market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $28.3 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for high-grade silica sand in electronics and semiconductors, growth in renewable energy and solar panel production, increasing oil and gas exploration, adoption of advanced coating technologies, expansion of ceramics and refractory applications. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for high-purity silica sand for glass manufacturing, increasing adoption of resin-coated and polymer-coated sand, growth of frac sand usage in oil and gas industry, expansion of filter sand applications in water treatment, rising use of silica sand in construction and foundry applications.

The silica sand market is anticipated to experience significant expansion propelled by the burgeoning solar panel industry. This sector encompasses the manufacturing and installation of solar panels, crucial components for converting sunlight into electricity. Silica sand, as a foundational material in solar panel manufacturing, contributes to the production of high-quality solar cells, fostering the growth of the solar energy industry. Notably, as of December 2023, the Solar Energy Industries Association reported an average annual growth rate of 24% in the solar industry over the past decade. Furthermore, solar energy accounted for 48% of new electric capacity added to the grid in 2023, highlighting its pivotal role in driving the demand for silica sand.

Major companies operating in the silica sand market are focusing on developing technological advancements such as ultra-high-purity, low-iron silica sand for advanced industrial applications to address the increasing demand for superior optical clarity, thermal stability, and contaminant-free materials in solar glass and specialty glass manufacturing. Ultra-high-purity silica sand refers to silica (SiO₂) that is processed to eliminate iron and other trace impurities, resulting in consistent particle size and chemical composition compared with conventional industrial silica sand, thereby enabling higher performance in demanding applications. For example, in December 2025, Homerun Resources Inc., a Canada-based mineral resources company, announced positive laboratory-scale confirmation testing results for its Santa Maria Eterna high-purity silica sand. The product delivers over 99.6% SiO₂ purity with very low iron content, making it suitable for antimony-free solar glass production, reducing the need for additional chemical processing, and ensuring improved optical and industrial performance compared with traditional silica sand products.

In May 2024, Covia Holdings LLC, a US-based industrial minerals company, acquired R.W. Sidley’s Industrial Minerals Division, including its silica sand mining operations, for an undisclosed sum. With this acquisition, Covia seeks to broaden its silica sand portfolio and reinforce its position in the industrial minerals market by incorporating R.W. Sidley’s high-quality silica-based products. R.W. Sidley’s Industrial Minerals Division is a US-based producer and supplier of silica sand serving applications such as water filtration, industrial uses, and sports aggregates.

Major companies operating in the silica sand market report are Aggregate Industries, Badger Mining Corporation, Chongqing Changjiang River Moulding Material (Group) Co. Ltd, Covia Holdings Corporation, Superior Silica Sands, Euroquarz GmbH, JFE Mineral & Alloy Company Ltd, Preferred Sands, Quarzwerke GmbH, Sibelco Group, U.S. Silica Holdings Inc., Pattison Sand, Hi-Crush Inc., Sil Industrial Minerals, Athabasca Minerals Inc., Capital Sand Company, Signal Peak Silica LLC, Atlas Sand Company LLC, Fairmount Santrol, Vista Sand, Smart Sand, Emerge Energy Services LP, Select Sands America Corp., Northern Silica Corporation, SSS White Sands, Hanson Lake Sands Corporation.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the silica sand market in 2025.Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global silica sand market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the silica sand market are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the silica sand market are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The silica sand market consists of sales of unprocessed silica sand, washed and dried sand, silica flour, and specialty sands. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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