In 2023, Vietnam exported nearly 76,000 metric tons of silica sand, including over 14,000 tons to China. Export prices have shown a steady upward trend, reaching USD 75/ton by early 2025.

As China’s import demand is projected to reach 2.3 billion kilograms by 2026, the market is transitioning from trial shipments to stable, high-volume commercial flows – presenting a timely opportunity for Vietnamese exporters and logistics providers.

Market Trends Through Late 2025: Vietnam’s Silica Sand Well-Positioned for Expansion

Amid strengthening Vietnam – China trade ties, Central Vietnam is fast becoming a strategic logistics corridor. Anchored by ports in Da Nang and Quy Nhon and bolstered by a growing network of cross-border trade routes, the region is ideally placed to serve rising demand from China's high-tech manufacturing centers.

Major Chinese industrial zones such as Guangdong, Shanghai and Ningbo are ramping up production of electronics, displays and semiconductors – industries that depend heavily on high-purity silica. China’s silica imports are expected to increase from 1.8 billion kg in 2021 to 2.3 billion kg by 2026, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 4.2%.

Central Vietnam offers compelling advantages over other sources:

• Competitive freight rates thanks to shorter sailing distances
• Faster lead times due to direct port-to-port routes
• Consistently high-grade material, meeting China’s stringent technical specifications for high-tech use

Vantage Logistics Da Nang inspects silica cargo ahead of export
 

At Vantage Logistics’ Da Nang office, we’ve observed strong signals from long-term clients exporting silica sand to Nansha Port, China. Importantly, these are no longer one-off sample shipments but have evolved into recurring commercial contracts – a clear indicator of growing confidence in both Vietnamese material quality and Vantage’s cross-border logistics capabilities.

Why the Central Vietnam – China Route Makes Strategic Sense

• Strategic port access: Direct sailings from Da Nang and Quy Nhon to China’s key ports – Nansha, Shanghai, and Ningbo
• Flexible cross-border routing: Seamless combination of ocean freight and inland trucking, optimising both cost and delivery time
• Integrated supply chain: From mine → storage → port → Chinese factory, enabling speed, reliability and transparency
• Stable supply source: Central Vietnam boasts abundant silica reserves, ensuring long-term export continuity
• Upgraded processing capabilities: Local producers are investing in modern processing lines to meet technical and volume requirements of high-spec clients

 

Outlook Through 2025: Scale-Up and Diversify

Two key dynamics are expected to shape the silica export market through the end of 2025:

• Higher shipment volumes and frequencies: As pilot shipments are validated, they are quickly converting into long-term, high-frequency contracts
• Product diversification: Success in silica creates a strong foundation to introduce other minerals into the high-tech supply chain – such as kaolin, bentonite and more

Silica exports from Da Nang to Nansha are not merely transactional – they signal a structural shift in Central Vietnam’s mineral export landscape. Now is a critical window for Vietnamese suppliers to scale operations, improve supply chain resilience and secure a position on the global high-tech sourcing map.

Vantage Logistics – Your Strategic Logistics Partner for Silica Sand and High-Tech Minerals

At Vantage, we deliver end-to-end logistics solutions tailored to the complex needs of the mineral and industrial export sector – from mine to destination port:

• Door-to-door transport from Central Vietnam mining sites to major ports in China (Nansha, Shanghai, Ningbo, etc.)
• Specialized bulk cargo handling: Preserving silica integrity throughout storage, loading, and shipping
• Customs clearance & export documentation: Including CO, CQ, quality certification, and tariff optimization
• Long-term supply chain consulting: Co-developing sustainable, scalable logistics models for mining and manufacturing enterprises
• Multimodal transport integration: Combining sea, cross-border trucking, and domestic haulage to reduce delivery time and logistics cost

With 23+ years of experience in industrial and project cargo, Vantage Logistics is ready to help your business optimize shipment performance, scale up to commercial volumes and tap into the growing demand of China’s high-tech industries.