Global Silica Minerals Mining Market 2016-2020

Outlook of the global silica minerals mining market

Technavio’s market research analyst predicts that the global silica minerals mining market will grow at a steady CAGR of just over 5% during the forecast period. Due to the resurgence of the global gas industry, the silica minerals mining industry has been experiencing a high demand for sand. Silica sand is used in the oil industry for the hydraulic fracturing process as it helps in the extraction of gasses. With the growing demand for silica from oil companies, the growth prospects for this market will witness a stark increase until the end of the predicted period.

The market demand for silica minerals is very high due to an increase in horizontal well drilling by oil companies. Service companies like Schlumberger are always refining fracking techniques and technologies so that they can maximize hydrocarbon recovery from every well. One of the most used techniques is horizontal drilling, which requires more stages in the fracking process. This means that more proppant has to be used at each stage, resulting in a higher need for silica sand. This market trend favors the growth of the silica minerals mining market during the forecast period.

Segmentation by end use and analysis of the silica minerals mining market

• Glass
• Hydraulic fracturing
• Foundry
• Construction
• Sports and leisure
• Chemicals

The glass segment dominates the global silica minerals mining market and is expected to use close to 74 million metric tons of silica minerals by the end of the forecast period. Much of this growth can be attributed to the rise in demand for silica sand from industries such as construction, solar panels, specialty glass, and automotive. Furthermore, with the growth of the beer and wine industry in China, the demand for glass-based packaging materials will increase significantly over the next few years.

Geographical segmentation of the silica minerals mining market

• Americas
• APAC
• Europe
• ROW

The APAC region is not only the largest market for silica, but it is also experiencing rapid growth. Construction is one of the biggest market drivers, especially in countries like India and China. The demand from the glass manufacturing industry in China is yet another driver, not just in the beverages sector but also for flat glass. APAC’s market share in 2015 was close to 51% and is expected to remain about the same through the forecast period.

Competitive landscape and key vendors

The global silica minerals mining market is a very competitive one. Until recently, there were just a few major vendors but with the entry of new players, the market share of larger vendors is decreasing. Some factors that pose significant risks to vendors are intense competition, regulatory changes like limiting the use of silica sand in certain products, and the ban on hydraulic fracturing practices in countries like France.

Key vendors in the market are -

• Badger Mining
• Fairmount Santrol
• Preferred Sands
• Quarzwerke
• Sibelco
• U.S. Silica

Other prominent vendors in the market are Minerali Industriali and Imerys Ceramics.

Key questions answered in the report include

• What will the market size and the growth rate be in 2020?
• What are the key factors driving the global silica minerals mining market?
• What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the global silica minerals mining market?
• What are the challenges to market growth?
• Who are the key vendors in the global silica minerals mining market?
• What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global silica minerals mining market?
• Trending factors influencing the market shares of the Americas, APAC, Europe, and ROW.
• What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the global silica minerals mining market?

Technavio also offers customization on reports based on specific client requirement.

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