Garnet sand selection & Production cost-Honest Horse china garnet sand

Garnet sand selection & Production cost

Demand: A Structural Upgrade from "Substitution" to "Indispensable Need"

The growth in demand for garnet abrasives is driven by both environmental protection policies and the rise of high-end manufacturing.

On the one hand, with the ban on open-air dry sandblasting in many regions, traditional quartz sand and copper ore sand are restricted due to dust pollution. However, garnet abrasives emit only one-third of the dust of traditional abrasives and can be recycled 3-5 times. They have quickly become an essential material for ship repair and steel structure rust removal, with demand in these areas growing at an annual rate exceeding 15%.

On the other hand, high-end manufacturing sectors such as aerospace and new energy battery casings are demanding higher precision in surface treatment. High-purity garnet abrasives, with their uniform particle size and stable hardness, are seeing rising demand, further opening up the market.

Cost: Raw materials and processing fees set the price range.

The price of garnet abrasives has always been constrained by two major cost factors. First, raw material costs account for over 60% of production costs. High-quality garnet mines are concentrated in regions like India, South Africa,Austrilia and China. The landed price of imported ore is expected to increase by 8%-12% compared to 2023, directly driving up base costs. Domestic ore requires additional purification, adding another 15%-20% to processing costs.

Second, energy and labor account for over 30% of production costs. Crushing and screening processes consume significant amounts of electricity. Combined with an average annual increase in labor costs of 5%-8%, small and medium-sized enterprises face significant cost pressures.

Industry Implications: Balancing Demand and Cost Control

For companies with demand, they should closely follow the trends in environmental protection and high-end manufacturing, prioritizing high-purity, customized products. At the same time, they should reduce garnet costs through centralized bulk procurement to find profitability amidst growing demand and cost pressures.