Authored By: Sarah
22 Feb 2025

Proppants Market Trends 2024-2028: Growth, Key Segments & Regional Insights

The proppants market is projected to grow by USD 5.30 billion at a CAGR of 8.42% from 2023 to 2028. This growth is driven by the increasing demand for drilling proppants in hydraulic fracturing. Fine mesh raw frac sand, including ceramic sand and sintered bauxite, is gaining traction due to its ability to enhance porosity in sandstone formations, improving oil and gas extraction efficiency. Advances in hydraulic fracturing technology are enabling the use of more cost-effective proppants like magnesium silicate, further propelling the market. The transition toward renewable energy sources is also opening new opportunities for proppants in geothermal and coal bed methane extraction

Global Proppants Market 2024-2028

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Market Segmentation

By Product Type

  • Frac Sand
  • Ceramic Proppants
  • Resin-Coated Proppants

By Application

  • Shale Gas
  • Coal Bed Methane
  • Tight Gas
  • Others

Regional Market Trends

North America (66% Market Share Contribution)

  • US

Europe

  • Germany

APAC

  • China

  • India

  • Japan

South America

Middle East and Africa

By Product Type Insights

The frac sand segment is projected to witness significant growth. Frac sand, a naturally sourced proppant from high-purity sandstone, is composed mainly of quartz with spherical grains that enhance oil and gas extraction. The market value of frac sand was USD 6.88 billion in 2018 and has shown steady growth, driven by its low cost, high compressive strength, and resilience in hydraulic fracturing applications.

Regional Insights

North America

North America dominates the global proppants market, with the US as the primary contributor. The country has over 170 billion barrels of technically recoverable shale oil and approximately 1,600 trillion cubic feet of recoverable shale and tight natural gas. The region's reliance on hydraulic fracturing methods like multistage fracturing and horizontal drilling is fueling demand for proppants.

Key Factors Driving Growth in North America:

  • Extensive use of frac sand in unconventional oil and gas extraction
  • Increasing adoption of multistage fracturing technology
  • Large reserves of shale and tight gas
  • Rising concerns regarding water contamination in fracking operations

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Growing Demand for Fine Mesh Raw Frac Sand

The rising use of fine mesh raw frac sand is a major market driver. Fine mesh sand enhances fluid flow through rock fissures, making it a cost-effective alternative to resin-coated and ceramic proppants. This demand is particularly strong in the US, where unconventional drilling techniques and increasing petroleum product consumption are accelerating the adoption of Northern White sand and other fine mesh proppants.

Market Trends

Technological Developments in Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing is evolving with innovations such as:

  • Real-time pressure data monitoring to prevent over-fracturing
  • IoT integration and data analytics for improved efficiency
  • Machine learning applications for optimized resource use
  • Advanced drilling proppants like ceramic sand, sintered bauxite, kaolin, and magnesium silicate to improve extraction performance

Market Challenges

Increasing Dependency on Renewable Energy Sources

The US energy sector is shifting toward renewable energy sources, impacting the proppants market. The adoption of solar and wind energy, along with government subsidies for clean energy, poses a challenge to hydraulic fracturing-based oil and gas production. However, natural gas remains a significant fuel source, with the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reporting that natural gas accounted for 30% of total US energy consumption in 2018.

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Key Players

  • Baker Hughes Co.
  • Atlas Energy Solutions, Inc.
  • Badger Mining Corp.
  • CARBO Ceramics Inc.
  • ChangQing Proppant Corp.
  • Compagnie de Saint Gobain
  • Covia Holdings LLC
  • Curimbaba Group
  • Hexion Inc.
  • Hi Crush Inc.
  • JSC Borovichi Refractories Plant
  • Minerals Technologies Inc.
  • nikapetrotech.com
  • Preferred Proppants LLC
  • Schlumberger Ltd.
  • SUN Specialty Products
  • US Silica Holdings Inc.
  • WaterTectonics Inc.
  • Xinmi Wanli Industry Development Co. Ltd.
  • Rockleigh Industries Inc.

Future Market Insights

The proppants market is expected to grow steadily, driven by the increasing demand for unconventional resources, advancements in drilling technologies, and government initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The shift toward digital transformation in hydraulic fracturing and the development of environmentally friendly proppants will further shape the industry's trajectory.

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