- Industrial silica sand is a high-purity quartz sand used as a critical raw material in applications such as glass manufacturing, hydraulic fracturing in oil and gas, foundry casting, construction materials, and water filtration
- The escalating demand for industrial silica sand is primarily driven by the increasing production of glass for automotive, construction, and solar energy sectors, along with rising shale gas exploration activities where silica sand serves as an essential proppant to enhance well productivity
- U.S. dominated the industrial silica sand market with a share of 73.5% in 2024, due to the country’s strong presence of glass manufacturing, oil and gas exploration, and construction industries that heavily rely on high-quality silica sand
- Mexico is expected to be the fastest growing region in the industrial silica sand market during the forecast period due to country’s growing construction sector, combined with surging demand for silica sand in glass production, metal casting, and oilfield services
- Surface quarrying segment dominated the market with a market share of 58.6% in 2024, due to its cost-effective extraction process and suitability for large-volume silica sand production. Most silica sand deposits near the surface are accessed through open-pit quarrying, which remains the primary method for industrial silica sand operations globally
