(May 17, 2026) Since the beginning of this year, the supply and demand pattern of quartz sand, sulfuric acid, sodium silicate, etc., the core raw materials of silica, etc., has undergone significant changes, and problems such as intensified price fluctuations and insufficient supply stability have been highlighted, forcing domestic silica enterprises to accelerate the optimization of procurement models, upgrade production processes, adjust product structures, and promote the transformation of the entire industry from "passive response" to "active adaptation" to achieve high-quality development.
The reporter learned from the domestic commodity trading platform and industry associations that as of May 17, the average price of domestic quartz sand (special for silica) reached 1,280 yuan/ton, up 23.1% from the beginning of the year, a new high in the same period in the past three years; The average price of industrial sulfuric acid remained at 890 yuan/ton, down from the peak in March, but still up 18.7% from the beginning of the year; the average price of sodium silicate was 620 yuan/ton, up 15.4% year-on-year. The continuous rise in raw material prices and the limited supply of some production areas have directly pushed up the production cost of silica, and some small and medium-sized enterprises are facing problems such as profit pressure and declining capacity utilization.
The change in the supply and demand pattern of raw materials is mainly due to three factors. First, the environmental protection control of quartz sand production areas has been upgraded, the main quartz sand producing areas in China have carried out mine remediation, some small mines have been shut down, and the supply of high-quality quartz sand has been tightened, while the production capacity of the silica industry has been steadily expanding, demand has continued to increase, and the gap between supply and demand has gradually widened; second, the operating rate of the sulfuric acid industry remains low, and the supply of upstream sulfur and smelting flue gas is insufficient, resulting in limited sulfuric acid production and high prices; Third, the sodium silicate industry is affected by energy consumption control, and the release of production capacity is limited, and the demand of multiple downstream industries is superimposed, further exacerbating the tight supply situation.
In the face of complex changes in the raw material market, domestic silica companies have taken countermeasures to accelerate industrial optimization and upgrading. The reporter visited a number of silica manufacturers and learned that the leading enterprises took the lead in adjusting their procurement strategies and signed long-term strategic cooperation agreements with raw material suppliers such as quartz sand and sulfuric acid to lock in the supply and price of raw materials and reduce the risks caused by market fluctuations. At the same time, increase investment in technical transformation of production processes, optimize the utilization rate of raw materials, and some enterprises have increased the utilization rate of quartz sand from 78% to 92% through technological upgrading, effectively reducing raw material consumption and alleviating cost pressure.
"The rise in raw material prices and unstable supply force us to take the road of refined development." The person in charge of procurement of a silica enterprise said that the company not only optimized the procurement system and built a multi-channel raw material supply network, but also relied on technological upgrading to adjust the product structure, reduce the production capacity of low-value-added products, focus on the production of high-end silica products with high added value, and hedge the pressure of rising raw material costs by increasing the unit price of products. At present, the proportion of the company's high-end product revenue has increased to 55%, an increase of 10 percentage points from the beginning of the year.
The relevant person in charge of the industry association said that the change in the supply and demand pattern of raw materials is reshaping the development logic of the silica industry. In the short term, the high operation of raw material prices will continue, the cost pressure of enterprises is difficult to quickly alleviate, and the differentiation of the industry will be further intensified; In the long run, raw material constraints will promote enterprises to accelerate technological innovation, optimize product structure, improve the supply chain system, force the industry to eliminate backward production capacity, and improve industrial concentration and risk resistance. It is expected that by the end of 2026, the average raw material utilization rate of domestic silica enterprises will increase to more than 88%, and the supply chain collaboration ability will be significantly enhanced.
Industry experts pointed out that raw materials are the core support for the development of the silica industry, and changes in the supply and demand pattern are both challenges and opportunities. Experts suggest that silica enterprises should strengthen coordination and cooperation with upstream raw material enterprises to jointly build a stable supply chain system; At the same time, increase investment in technology research and development, improve raw material utilization rate and product added value, optimize product structure, and reduce dependence on single raw materials; In addition, it can actively expand overseas raw material procurement channels, diversify the supply chain, effectively respond to fluctuations in domestic raw material supply, and promote the sustainable and healthy development of the industry.
