Sand is a major dry bulk cargo, with global seaborne trade of approximately 5 to 8 million tonnes per year of higher-value processed grades plus larger volumes of construction sand handled in regional and short-sea trade. The cargo serves three principal end-uses: silica sand for glass manufacture, foundry casting, and frac sand for oil and gas hydraulic fracturing; construction sand for concrete and aggregate; and mineral sands (rutile, ilmenite, zircon) as feedstock for titanium and zirconium chemical industries. The IMSBC Code includes multiple schedule entries reflecting this diversity.
Schedule structure
The IMSBC Code includes the following sand-related schedule entries:
- Sand: a generic entry for ordinary silica and construction sand. Group C (not liquefiable, no chemical hazard) for typical commercial grades.
- Heavy mineral sand: dense mineral sands containing rutile, ilmenite, zircon, and similar heavy minerals. Group A (potentially liquefiable) for fine concentrate forms; Group C for coarse-graded material.
- Sand (silica): a specific entry for high-purity silica sand with particle size and chemical specifications. Group C.
The shipper declares the appropriate schedule entry on the cargo documentation.
Cargo properties
Construction and silica sand has bulk density of approximately 1.4 to 1.7 tonnes per cubic metre, with stowage factor of approximately 0.6 to 0.7 cubic metres per tonne. Heavy mineral sand has higher bulk density (2.5 to 3.5 tonnes per cubic metre depending on mineral composition).
Sand is non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-self-heating. The principal handling concerns are:
- Dust generation: fine sand grades generate respirable dust during handling. Silica dust in particular is a confirmed lung carcinogen and is subject to strict occupational exposure limits in most jurisdictions.
- Liquefaction risk: fine heavy mineral sands can be liquefaction-prone if moisture content exceeds the TML. Pre-loading testing applies for Group A consignments.
- Compatibility with steel: dry sand is benign to steel; moist sand can promote modest corrosion in poorly drained bilge structure.
- Hold paint abrasion: sand is abrasive and can wear hold paint coatings during loading and discharge.
Major routes
Sand seaborne trade is more fragmented than other major bulk cargoes. Notable flows include:
- Australia to global markets: heavy mineral sand exports from Western Australian operations supply zircon and titanium feedstock to Asian and European chemical industries.
- United States and Canada to global markets: frac sand exports for oil and gas industry.
- Europe to global markets: high-purity silica sand for glass and electronics applications.
- Mozambique and Madagascar to global markets: emerging mineral sand exports.
- Singapore and Southeast Asia regional trade: construction sand for major reclamation and infrastructure projects.
The Singapore reclamation and construction sand market is notable for its scale, with Singapore historically importing tens of millions of tonnes annually for land reclamation projects, drawing supplies from Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam under varied export-permit regimes.
Loading and discharge
Loading is by shore conveyor and shiploader at major export terminals. Hold preparation requires standard cleanliness. Discharge is by grab-fitted shore cranes at receiving terminals.