modestly increase the amount headed for metalcasters, while the total capacity of silica sand increased dramati- cally.
Considering the growth in both supply and de- mand of fracking sand, the average price for industrial silica sand as a whole has increased substantially since 2007. Sand destined for the metalcasting industry had remained relatively stable until the shortage in 2011. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price then jumped nearly 20% (see Table 1). Since then, the price appears to have stabilized, with the 2011 price increase a part of a new normal. Due to a number of issues including differing techni-
cal specification, the price of sand destined for met- alcasting facilities is significantly lower than sand used in fracking. A relatively insignificant cost for oil and gas producers, sand is a material integral to the metalcasting industry’s ability to run smoothly. Tis difference in price has led some sand suppliers to focus primarily on frack- ing operations, but the metalcasting industry still has options in acquiring its necessary volume of sand. Also, sand destined for metalcasters is less profitable per ton, but the industry provides stability when compared to oil and gas producers. Fracking sand is influenced strongly by the price of gas and oil, meaning suppliers can go from not being able to produce enough sand to a situation where they can’t stop production quickly enough. In contrast, the price of castings has been relatively stable. Consequently, the oil and gas market can go through two or three economic cycles for every one of other industries based on a variety of worldwide economic factors. Additionally, metalcast- ers tend to require a more standard amount of sand per month at fixed locations, while fracking demand can
增加了铸造行业的用砂供应，从而使硅砂的总产量大幅 提高。
考虑到水力压裂市场对于砂子的供求均增长，自 2007年开始，工业用硅砂的平均价格整体大幅提高。同 时，在2011年出现用砂短缺之前，铸造行业的砂子价格 相对保持平稳。根据美国劳工部数据，当时的平均价格 下跌近20%（见表3）。之后，价格恢复平稳，而2011 年的价格上涨是新常态的部分体现。
由于技术参数不同等一系列原因，铸造企业用砂的价 格明显低于水力压裂行业。对于石油天然气行业来说， 这只是很小的成本，而砂子是铸造行业正常运行不可或 缺的材料。价格差异已导致一些供砂企业更加关注水力 压裂市场的需求，然而，铸造行业仍有办法获取所需的 砂子。虽然铸造企业用砂每吨的利润率较低，但是，铸 造行业的用砂需求相比石油天然气行业来说更加稳定。 水力压裂用砂受石油天然气价格的影响很大，也就是 说，供砂企业可能出现产量不能满足需求或者供大于求 的状态。因为，在全球诸多经济因素的影响下，石油天 然气行业能够经受其他任何一个工业行业2到3个经济周 期的考验。与此相比，铸件的价格却相对稳定。此外， 特定地区的铸造企业，其每月用砂量一般保持固定，然 而，水力压裂行业的用砂需求在不同区域可能由于某些 油井的用砂量大而猛增。
Table 2. The amount of sand destined for metalcasting facilities has remained fairly steady, but the indus- try’s total market share has steadily decreased during the fracking boom.
铸造企业的用砂总 量保持相对稳定， 但是，铸造行业用 砂比例相对工业用 砂整个市场随水力 压裂市场的强劲需 求已逐步下降。
December 2014
FOUNDRY-PLANET.COM | MODERN CASTING | CHINA FOUNDRY ASSOCIATION | 83
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