The global sand mining industry in 2025 will present a complex situation of both tightening supply and diverging demand. The traditional construction sand market will see slower growth due to fluctuations in the real estate market, while demand for high-end industrial sand will maintain strong growth. Supply shortages in some regional markets due to environmental policy restrictions will lead to structural price increases, becoming a significant feature of the year. From a global perspective, increased infrastructure investment in emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and Africa will drive up demand for sand and gravel, while the European and American markets will focus more on the sustainability of sand sources and the application of recycling technologies.
Supply chain restructuring has become a key issue in the industry. Regions that previously relied on river sand mining are accelerating their shift to manufactured sand production capacity, leading to a replacement cycle for crushing and screening equipment. Global sales of mobile sand making equipment are projected to increase by 14% year-on-year in 2025, with the Chinese market contributing over 40% of the share. Logistics costs are accounting for a rising proportion of sand and gravel prices, with the average transportation radius expanding to over 150 kilometers, and multimodal transport solutions becoming increasingly common.
Policies and standards continue to influence market trends. In 2025, many countries implemented new sand mining regulations. China promoted a “total volume control and intelligent supervision” model for sand and gravel mining, with electronic mining rights registration and transportation traceability systems covering major production areas. The EU included sand and gravel in its list of critical raw materials, promoting the development of domestic supply chains. Environmental assessments and ecological restoration requirements have become more stringent, increasing corporate compliance costs by more than 12% year-on-year.
New characteristics have emerged in trade flows. Trade in sand and gravel between land neighbors has seen significant growth. China’s total imports of construction sand from neighboring countries are projected to exceed 80 million tons in 2025, doubling the figure from 2023. Seaborne sand and gravel trade remains dominated by regional markets, with Southeast Asia continuing to lead export destinations. However, fluctuations in shipping costs have weakened the economics of long-distance trade, prompting many countries to prioritize developing domestic sand and gravel production capacity to achieve self-sufficiency.
