Kuwait: Silica Sand Market 2024

Silica Sand Market Size in Kuwait

The Kuwaiti silica sand market totaled $X in 2022, approximately mirroring the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). Overall, consumption recorded a strong increase. Over the period under review, the market attained the peak level at $X in 2020; afterwards, it flattened through to 2022.

Silica Sand Exports

Exports from Kuwait

In 2022, approx. X tons of silica sands (quartz sands or industrial sands) were exported from Kuwait; growing by 9.7% against the previous year. Over the period under review, exports, however, showed a abrupt decrease. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 when exports increased by 371% against the previous year. The exports peaked at X tons in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, silica sand exports rose sharply to $X in 2022. Overall, exports, however, saw a abrupt contraction. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 when exports increased by 273% against the previous year. As a result, the exports reached the peak of $X. From 2017 to 2022, the growth of the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

Saudi Arabia (X tons) was the main destination for silica sand exports from Kuwait, with a 55% share of total exports. Moreover, silica sand exports to Saudi Arabia exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, Bahrain (X tons), threefold. The third position in this ranking was taken by the United Arab Emirates (X tons), with a 12% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume to Saudi Arabia totaled +4.4%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Bahrain (-0.0% per year) and the United Arab Emirates (-1.2% per year).

In value terms, the United Arab Emirates ($X) remains the key foreign market for silica sands (quartz sands or industrial sands) exports from Kuwait, comprising 52% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Saudi Arabia ($X), with a 25% share of total exports. It was followed by Qatar, with an 11% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value to the United Arab Emirates stood at -2.5%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Saudi Arabia (-4.5% per year) and Qatar (+1.3% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The average silica sand export price stood at $X per ton in 2022, stabilizing at the previous year. In general, the export price continues to indicate a slight decline. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2014 an increase of 181% against the previous year. As a result, the export price reached the peak level of $X per ton. From 2015 to 2022, the average export prices remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Oman ($X per ton), while the average price for exports to Bahrain ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Pakistan (+73.4%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Silica Sand Imports

Imports into Kuwait

In 2022, the amount of silica sands (quartz sands or industrial sands) imported into Kuwait reached X tons, leveling off at the year before. In general, imports showed a buoyant increase. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 when imports increased by 145%. Imports peaked at X tons in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2022, imports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, silica sand imports reached $X in 2022. Overall, imports recorded a strong increase. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 with an increase of 315% against the previous year. Imports peaked at $X in 2020; afterwards, it flattened through to 2022.

Imports by Country

In 2022, Saudi Arabia (X tons) constituted the largest silica sand supplier to Kuwait, with a 88% share of total imports. Moreover, silica sand imports from Saudi Arabia exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, China (X tons), more than tenfold.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of volume from Saudi Arabia amounted to +7.7%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: China (+18.5% per year) and Oman (+18.8% per year).

In value terms, Saudi Arabia ($X) constituted the largest supplier of silica sands (quartz sands or industrial sands) to Kuwait, comprising 82% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by China ($X), with an 8.4% share of total imports.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of value from Saudi Arabia amounted to +19.4%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: China (+19.5% per year) and Oman (+27.5% per year).

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the average silica sand import price amounted to $X per ton, leveling off at the previous year. Overall, import price indicated a strong increase from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +9.3% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, silica sand import price increased by +70.5% against 2016 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 an increase of 99% against the previous year. Over the period under review, average import prices reached the peak figure in 2022 and is expected to retain growth in years to come.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was China ($X per ton), while the price for Saudi Arabia ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Saudi Arabia (+10.9%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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