Why We Worry About Sand Demand

During March, we worried about our demand for sand.

But now we have a real problem.

Sand Demand

The New Manila International Airport that will accommodate 100 million fliers annually had a 2027 opening date. Recently though, unable to secure enough backfill sand, they’ve delayed construction. As a result, the land development stage is at a standstill. They would have liked to source the sand from nearby Manila Bay but the government said no. Consequently, the alternative is to import sand from somewhere else.

However, they need to be sure to use the right kind of sand. If they wound up with desert sand, it would be the wrong shape and too smooth. Instead, sand found in quarries that formed from glacier, wave, or river erosion is ideal. It needs to be “edgy” sand with the right drainage capability.

So yes, the sand you choose depends on how you use it. Beach volleyball usually cannot be played on a beach because the sand is too firm. Instead, ideal volleyball sand lets players bury their ankles. Meanwhile, solar panels smartphone screens, and computer chips use high-purity silica sand. A typical home has more than 100 tons of sand in its foundation, driveway, and windowpanes. One mile of a single lane road needs close to 38,000 tons of sand.

One handful of sand might be composed of crushed marble while another could be quartz, shells, and bits of plastic. Sand could be more or less firm. How much water it absorbs will vary. According to the BBC, China has used more sand during the past 10 years than the U.S. used throughout the 20th century.

Our Bottom Line: Cost

Second only to water, sand is one of our most-consumed natural resources. Used everywhere, sand is in cement, roads, bridges, windows, and silicon chips. Because we use a whopping amount of sand annually, shortages are imminent.

This is where economics comes in handy. Knowing that cost is defined as sacrifice, we can predict that sand shortages will make it more expensive. At that point, we have the incentive to use less.

My sources and more: Thanks to my BBC World Business Report podcast for alerting me to the Philippines’ sand demand problems. From there, Mayala Business Insight had the facts.

Our featured image is a rendering of the new Filipino airport. Also please note that several of today’s sentences were in past econlife posts.