Frac Sand Market Report 2025

The frac sand market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $7.8 billion in 2024 to $8.57 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to the rise in shale gas exploration, increased horizontal drilling activities, growth in hydraulic fracturing operations, growing demand for high-purity silica sand, and heightened investments in oilfield services.

The frac sand market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $12.31 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing unconventional oil and gas production, rising energy demand in emerging economies, growing adoption of multi-well pad drilling, increasing proppant intensity per well, and rising investment in upstream oilfield projects. Key trends during this period include advancements in sand logistics and transportation, innovations in proppant technologies, integration of in-basin sand supply chains, advanced well completion techniques, and the adoption of automated frac sand handling systems.

The increasing demand for oil and gas is expected to drive the growth of the frac sand market going forward. Oil and gas demand refers to the total volume of petroleum and natural gas products required by consumers and industries for energy, transportation, and manufacturing. This rise in demand is largely due to expanding global industrialization, which increases energy consumption across manufacturing and transportation sectors. Frac sand supports the oil and gas industry by improving the efficiency of hydraulic fracturing, enabling greater extraction of oil and gas from shale formations. For example, in December 2025, the US Energy Information Administration, a US-based government agency, reported that oil production increased from 12.2 million barrels per day in December 2022 to 13.3 million barrels per day, while natural gas output reached 128.8 billion cubic feet per day in December 2023. Therefore, the growing oil and gas demand is fueling the expansion of the frac sand market.

The expansion of infrastructure is expected to drive the growth of the frac sand market going forward. Infrastructure involves the development and enhancement of physical facilities and systems that support economic growth and public services. This expansion is driven by rising demand for efficient transportation and utilities to promote economic progress and improve quality of life. Frac sand is utilized in infrastructure construction as a high-quality aggregate in materials such as concrete and asphalt, providing strength, durability, and stability to roads, bridges, and buildings. For example, in November 2023, the Office for National Statistics, a UK-based government agency, reported that new infrastructure orders in electricity increased by 226.8% in 2022 compared to 2021, reaching £6.38 billion ($7.41 billion). Therefore, the expansion of infrastructure is fueling the growth of the frac sand market.

In March 2024, Atlas Energy Solutions Inc., a US-based industrial sand mining company, acquired Hi-Crush Inc. for an undisclosed sum. This strategic acquisition strengthens Atlas’s position as the largest proppant producer in the United States, with a combined annual production capacity of around 28 million tons. The deal also boosts Atlas’s leadership in proppant logistics across the Permian Basin and brings together two of the industry’s most innovative companies. Hi-Crush Inc. is a US-based manufacturer of frac sand, which serves as a proppant in hydraulic fracturing operations for oil and gas extraction.

Major players in the frac sand market are Saint-Gobain Proppants Inc., 3M Company, Apollo Global Management Inc., Vulcan Materials Company, Liberty Energy Inc., SCR-Sibelco N.V., Minerals Technologies Inc., Eagle Materials Inc., Momentive Performance Materials Inc., Atlas Energy Solutions Inc., Source Energy Services Ltd., Smart Sand Inc., CARBO Ceramics Inc., Badger Mining Corporation, Chongqing Changjiang River Moulding Material Group Co. Ltd., Select Sands Corp., Alpine Silica LLC, Pattison Sand Company LLC, Gulf Coast Sand LLC, and Iron Oak Energy Solutions LLC.

North America was the largest region in the frac sand market in 2024. The regions covered in frac sand report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the frac sand market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s recommendations and conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The rapid escalation of U.S. tariffs and the resulting trade tensions in spring 2025 are significantly impacting the mining sector, particularly in equipment procurement, export activity, and supply chain continuity. Higher duties on imported heavy machinery, drilling equipment, and specialized components have raised capital and operational costs for mining firms, delaying new project launches and limiting production efficiency. At the same time, retaliatory tariffs imposed by key trade partners have reduced export demand for U.S.-mined resources especially critical minerals like lithium, copper, and rare earth elements exacerbating revenue pressures. These dynamics are particularly challenging for mid-sized and specialty mining operators reliant on international markets. In response, the sector is increasingly investing in domestic equipment manufacturing partnerships, expanding recycling initiatives for strategic minerals, and advocating for trade exemptions to restore global competitiveness while ensuring long-term resource security.

Frac sand is a high-purity quartz sand characterized by durable, rounded grains, primarily used in the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) process to extract oil and natural gas from shale formations. It acts as a proppant, keeping fractures in the rock open to facilitate the flow of hydrocarbons. Frac sand is essential for unconventional energy extraction, with its demand closely linked to drilling activity levels.

The main types of frac sand include northern white sand, brown (Brady) sand, and others. Northern white sand, sourced mainly from the U.S. Midwest, is a silica-rich, high-purity sand widely used in hydraulic fracturing due to its strength and consistent grain size. The grades are categorized into 100 mesh, 140 mesh, 20 or 40 mesh, 40 or 70 mesh, 70 or 140 mesh, among others. Applications include oil exploration, natural gas exploration, and more. Key end users encompass oil and gas companies, foundries, construction firms, glass manufacturers, sports and recreation industries, and others.

The frac sand market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides frac sand market statistics, including the frac sand industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the frac sand market share, detailed frac sand market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the frac sand industry. This frac sand market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The frac sand market consists of sales of synthetic proppants, treated and washed sand, and Ottawa sand. 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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