Market Intelligence Report on Dolomitic Sand in Commodity Markets (Recent Updates)

I. Price Dynamics
- Recent Quotations: As of May 26, 2026, industrial-grade dolomitic sand produced by Hubei Qiba Jiu Chemical Co., Ltd. (delivery location: Wuhan City, Hubei Province) is quoted at RMB 200 per ton. This represents an increase from previous quotations of RMB 160 per ton recorded on January 12, 2025, and July 25, 2024. Prices have remained stable at RMB 200 per ton over the past three months, indicating a sustained high-price level.
- Regional Price Variations: Price fluctuations for dolomitic sandstone in Hebei Province remain relatively modest. On March 9, 2026, the price of fine sand in Hebei stood at RMB 72.17 per ton; on April 10, 2026, crushed stone prices in Tangshan reached RMB 72.91 per ton, manufactured sand was priced at RMB 72.62 per ton, and river sand commanded RMB 111.15 per ton—highlighting notable price differentiation across sandstone categories.

II. Market Supply and Demand
- Supply Side:
- The number of valid mining permits for dolomitic sand nationwide has declined, while approval cycles for newly established mining rights have lengthened, raising industry entry barriers.
- In 2025, national raw dolomitic sand output amounted to 48.2 million tons; licensed mining enterprises achieved an actual shipment volume of 41.6 million tons—accounting for 86.3% of total production—indicating continuous enhancement of industry concentration.
- Stricter environmental regulations are driving green transformation initiatives among mining enterprises, resulting in the closure of some small- and medium-sized mines failing to meet environmental compliance standards.
- Demand Side:
- Steady infrastructure investment policies continue to take effect, and accelerated promotion of green building materials is sustaining stable growth in dolomitic sand demand.
- Surging demand for high-purity dolomitic sand from photovoltaic (PV) float glass manufacturing is further tightening supply-demand dynamics.
- Steel, cement, and other energy-intensive industries exhibit structural growth in demand for high-value-added dolomitic sand products characterized by extended service life and superior erosion resistance.

III. Policy Impacts
- Industrial Policy: The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), jointly with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), issued the \"Special Action Plan for Efficient Utilization of Non-Metallic Mineral Resources (2025–2027)\". Dolomitic sand has been explicitly listed as a Tier-2 product under the Critical Basic Minerals Security List, with a quantified target set for 2025: domestic self-sufficiency rate for high-purity dolomitic sand to reach 91.3%.
- Environmental Policy: The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) implemented the updated \"Technical Specifications for Issuing Discharge Permits in the Non-Metallic Mineral Mining and Processing Industry\", imposing mandatory requirements on dolomitic sand mines regarding dust online monitoring coverage, wastewater recycling rates, and comprehensive utilization rates of solid waste—accelerating the sector’s transition toward green, low-carbon development.
- Taxation and Financial Support: The Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration have extended and expanded preferential resource tax policies; qualified dolomitic sand enterprises meeting the criteria outlined in the \"Green Mine Evaluation Index System\" now enjoy enhanced resource tax reductions. Meanwhile, the China Development Bank has established dedicated low-interest loan quotas for the dolomitic sand industry, specifically supporting high-purity dolomitic sand deep-processing projects.

IV. Cost Factors
- Energy Costs: Rising energy prices and internalization of environmental compliance costs have increased production expenses, exerting upward pressure on ex-factory prices.
- Environmental Investment: Green mine construction investments have become structurally mandatory. In 2025, the industry-wide environmental technology upgrade investment totaled RMB 1.87 billion, representing a 12.6% year-on-year increase—contributing directly to higher average per-ton comprehensive production costs.

Analysis & Assessment

I. Price Trend Outlook
- Short Term: Dolomitic sand prices are likely to remain relatively stable or experience minor fluctuations, driven by current supply-demand equilibrium and cost pressures. The recent steady quotation of RMB 200 per ton reflects balanced market conditions, though rising production costs provide underlying price support.
- Long Term: With intensifying environmental regulation and growing downstream demand for high-value-added products, dolomitic sand prices are expected to trend upward. High-purity, high-performance products will increasingly dominate the market, propelling overall price levels higher.

II. Market Structure Evolution
- Premiumization and Differentiation: Market structure will continue optimizing toward premiumization and product differentiation. Growth in standard construction-grade dolomitic sand is projected to decelerate, whereas specialized segments—including electronic-grade and optical-grade dolomitic sand—are anticipated to record significant expansion.
- Competitive Advantage of Leading Enterprises: Industry leaders are reinforcing their market positions through technological innovation and vertical integration along the value chain. Small- and medium-sized enterprises must pursue survival strategies based on product differentiation and rigorous cost control. Companies possessing proprietary high-quality mineral resources, advanced deep-purification technologies, and long-term supply contracts with leading glass or PV customers offer comparatively higher investment safety margins and stronger growth potential.

III. Export Market
- Export Growth: Export markets represent a key growth vector. Total exports are projected to reach 150,000 tons in 2026, with high-purity and high-performance products constituting the dominant export category. As global demand for green building materials continues to rise, China’s dolomitic sand export prospects appear highly promising.

Forecast

I. Market Size
- Steady Growth: China’s dolomitic sand industry is forecast to achieve a market size of RMB 13.67 billion in 2026, reflecting a 6.3% year-on-year increase from 2025. The industry has entered a phase of quality- and efficiency-driven upgrading—not explosive expansion.

II. Supply-Demand Balance
- Tightening Dynamics: Under the triple impetus of sustained infrastructure stimulus policies, accelerated green building material adoption, and surging high-purity dolomitic sand demand from the PV float glass sector, supply-demand conditions will further tighten. While the targeted improvement in domestic high-purity dolomitic sand self-sufficiency will drive capacity expansion, environmental regulatory constraints will effectively curtail inefficient or non-compliant capacity growth.

III. Price Trajectory
- Upward Trend: Over the long term, dolomitic sand prices are poised for continued appreciation. Escalating production costs, tightening supply-demand fundamentals, and expanding demand for premium products collectively underpin this upward trajectory. In the near term, however, prices are expected to remain broadly stable or undergo only modest fluctuations, contingent upon prevailing market equilibrium and cost dynamics.