Product intelligence · HS 250510 · 2024 data

Sands: natural, silica and quartz sands, whether or not coloured

Global exports of sands: natural, silica and quartz sands, whether or not coloured totalled $1,795,598,792 in 2024, a +4.3% change from the previous year. Traded by 153 countries across 2,910 bilateral corridors, with demand from 193 importing markets. The long-term trend is growing.

Data: OECD BIMTS · Coverage: 19952024 · Updated: 2026-07-17

Global trade

$1.8B

+4.3% YoY

3Y / 5Y CAGR

+9.0%

5Y: +6.6%

Supply structure

Moderately concentrated

HHI 0.181

Volatility

Low

Score 7/100

1.

Market movement

In 2024, sands: natural, silica and quartz sands, whether or not coloured trade exhibited modest growth, with global flows reaching $1,795,598,792 and a three-year compound annual growth rate of +9.0% (five-year: +6.6%). The all-time peak of $1,795,598,792 was recorded in 2024.

Over the 30-year observation window (19952024), 69% of years recorded positive growth, indicating a predominantly expanding market. Trend momentum is strengthening (+5.0% acceleration).

The World Trade Flows Characterization classifies sands: natural, silica and quartz sands, whether or not coloured as "One-way trade" in the unclassified price segment, providing additional context for market positioning and competitive dynamics.

2.

Supply & demand structure

The supply side is moderately concentrated (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index 0.181). The three largest exporters — United States ($723.5M), Australia ($125.3M), and Germany ($97.3M) — collectively dominate supply flows. The leading exporter has grown at +18.0% over the last three years.

On the demand side, importer concentration is diversified (HHI 0.100). The three largest import markets are China ($437.6M), Canada ($288.1M), and Japan ($98.4M). The largest importing market sources from 67 different supplying countries.

Estimated substitution elasticity: -17.66. Buyers are highly price-sensitive and can switch between suppliers relatively easily.

The dominant trade corridor is United States → Canada at $284.3M, representing 98.7% of the importer's total demand.

3.

Risk profile & trade outlook

The volatility score for sands: natural, silica and quartz sands, whether or not coloured is 7 out of 100, classified as low. Trade flows are relatively stable compared to other HS6 products, suggesting mature supply chains and predictable demand.

For market entrants, modest but steady demand provides a reasonable entry window. A moderately concentrated market rewards differentiated positioning and strategic partner selection.

Data confidence is rated "High" based on reporting coverage and consistency across OECD member and partner countries.

Historical evidence

Annual trade value 19952024

Peak: $1,795,598,792 in 2024.

YearGlobal trade (USD)YoY growth
2015$1,076,202,578-11.3%
2016$988,131,908-8.2%
2017$1,222,382,184+23.7%
2018$1,396,197,041+14.2%
2019$1,301,854,178-6.8%
2020$1,189,832,801-8.6%
2021$1,387,293,948+16.6%
2022$1,528,233,569+10.2%
2023$1,721,334,284+12.6%
2024$1,795,598,792+4.3%

Top exporting countries

Ranked by export value of sands: natural, silica and quartz sands, whether or not coloured in 2024.

View all 153 exporters →

Top importing markets

Largest import destinations for sands: natural, silica and quartz sands, whether or not coloured.

View all 193 markets →

Leading trade corridors

Largest bilateral export flows for sands: natural, silica and quartz sands, whether or not coloured, ranked by value. Click any country to view its full profile.

#ExporterImporterValue 20243Y CAGR
1United StatesCanada$284.3M+8.5%
2United StatesChina$257.7M+69.5%
3IndonesiaChina$63.3M+26.8%
4OmanUnited Arab Emirates$58.3M+26.1%
5United StatesMexico$58.1M-1.7%
6United StatesJapan$46.7M+10.5%
7MalaysiaChina$40.5M+20.0%
8AustraliaJapan$37.6M+10.4%

Showing top 8 of 10 corridors with available data for 2024.

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Sources, definitions & methodology

Data source

OECD Bilateral International Merchandise Trade Statistics (BIMTS). Aggregated from 312M+ reported trade records across 200+ countries and 5,300+ HS6 product codes. Coverage: 19952024.

Key indicators

HHI (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index): market concentration, 0 = fully diversified, 1 = single player. CAGR: compound annual growth rate over a stated period. Volatility score: trade value variability, 0–100 scale.

How this page is made

All statistical content on this page is data-driven, composed programmatically from live OECD trade records. No generic AI-generated prose is used. Analytical paragraphs combine real data points with factual interpretation. This page was last refreshed on 2026-07-17.