Sand trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in sand was worth $2.49 billion in 2024, about 104.65 million tonnes. That is an increase of 45% since 2017, and down 6% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.49B | 104.65M t |
| 2023 | $2.64B | 82.98M t |
| 2022 | $2.21B | 75.30M t |
| 2021 | $2.16B | 87.22M t |
| 2020 | $1.88B | 65.99M t |
| 2019 | $2.01B | 73.83M t |
| 2018 | $2.06B | 60.81M t |
| 2017 | $1.72B | 238.62M t |
Top sand exporting countries
Exports are led by the United States (19%), Australia (11%) and Cambodia (9%). 177 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 38%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $472.0M | 19% |
| Australia | $267.7M | 11% |
| Cambodia | $218.0M | 8.8% |
| Netherlands | $176.0M | 7.1% |
| Germany | $174.4M | 7% |
| Malaysia | $119.0M | 4.8% |
| Belgium | $117.5M | 4.7% |
| Mozambique | $105.2M | 4.2% |
| China | $85.0M | 3.4% |
| Indonesia | $63.6M | 2.6% |
| France | $61.5M | 2.5% |
| Saudi Arabia | $57.8M | 2.3% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
China is the biggest buyer with 15% of world imports, ahead of Canada and Vietnam. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 36% across 213 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $378.9M | 15% |
| Canada | $286.6M | 12% |
| Vietnam | $225.5M | 9.1% |
| Belgium | $154.3M | 6.2% |
| Netherlands | $126.3M | 5.1% |
| Germany | $96.9M | 3.9% |
| Japan | $94.2M | 3.8% |
| Taiwan | $91.1M | 3.7% |
| Italy | $74.9M | 3% |
| Singapore | $61.2M | 2.5% |
| Turkey | $55.9M | 2.2% |
| United States | $51.9M | 2.1% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.02 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Australia averaged $0.09 per kg and the Netherlands $0.02 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2505: Sands of all kinds; natural, whether or not coloured, other than metal-bearing sands of chapter 26. HS 2505 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most sand?
The United States exported $472.0 million in 2024, 19% of the world total, followed by Australia (11%) and Cambodia (9%). In all, 177 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most sand?
China imported $378.9 million in 2024, 15% of world imports, ahead of Canada (12%) and Vietnam (9%). The top three importers together take 36%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in sand?
It was worth $2.49 billion in 2024, about 104.65 million tonnes. That is an increase of 45% since 2017. The peak year was 2023 at $2.64 billion. 177 countries reported exports and 213 reported imports.
What is the average price of sand per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.02 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Australia averaged $0.09 per kg and the Netherlands $0.02 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for sand?
The HS code for sand is heading 2505, in chapter 25 (salt; sulphur; earths, stone; plastering materials, lime and cement). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 2505 page.
How can I find sand buyers and suppliers?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX shows the importers and exporters behind this trade from shipment-level customs records, updated weekly, with direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.