Thanh Hoa: Prioritizing the production and use of artificial sand in construction

Faced with the risk of natural sand scarcity in the near future, artificial sand is expected to be an effective alternative solution for the construction industry. However, for many reasons, the consumption of this material is still mainly limited to businesses. In order to encourage the development of sustainable alternative materials, the provincial authorities have issued guidelines and requirements to prioritize the production and use of artificial sand in construction projects in Thanh Hoa province.

Artificial sand production line of Hoang Tuan Company Limited in Tong Son commune.

According to the report of Thanh Hoa Department of Construction, the whole province currently has 24 units with quarries that have invested in installing additional artificial sand production lines, with a total designed capacity of about 2.13 million ^m3 /year; 1 project is implementing investment in a line with a capacity of 0.18 million ^m3 /year. All artificial sand production enterprises have declared product quality conformity according to regulations. With the current capacity, the production lines are capable of replacing about 50 - 60% of the total natural sand output used for construction works in the province.

At Tan Thanh 2 LLC, from 2022 to now, the enterprise has invested in 2 artificial sand production lines located in 2 communes of Cam Tu and Tong Son with a total capacity of about 250,000m ³ / year. Raw materials for artificial sand production are exploited directly from the company's quarry. On the line, raw stones are washed with high pressure water before and after the crushing process, so the product is uniform in grain size and free of impurities. Artificial sand products are mainly used by units for the production of commercial concrete and structural concrete. Using artificial sand for concrete production helps reduce 10 - 12kg of cement/m ³ concrete compared to using natural sand.

According to the representative of Tan Thanh 2 Company, the unwillingness of many investors and contractors to use this material has made it difficult for the products to be sold. Currently, the company's artificial sand is mainly used internally to serve the needs of commercial concrete production, a part is sold to customers in Ninh Binh province, but the output is not much. The slow output of products causes difficulties for manufacturing enterprises.

Similarly, Nhan Nam Investment Construction and General Trading Joint Stock Company, licensed to exploit the quarry in Truong Lam commune, has also invested in an artificial sand production line since 2024. According to Mr. Hoang Van Cao, quarry manager of Nhan Nam Investment Construction and General Trading Joint Stock Company, artificial sand production has many advantages such as taking advantage of available raw materials, reducing costs, and ensuring a stable supply for the construction materials market. The company's crushed sand production activities are currently carried out according to orders. The provincial authorities have supported the company in investing in crushed sand production technology. However, to make the output products more accessible to the market, management agencies need to step up propaganda to change the awareness and habits of investors, contractors and people about the use of artificial sand in construction. At the same time, create conditions for artificial sand to be used in large projects, especially projects using State budget capital, thereby promoting the consumption market and expanding production scale.

Faced with that reality, on October 13, 2025, the Department of Construction issued an official dispatch requesting artificial sand production enterprises to maintain production according to design capacity, ensure product quality and stabilize sand supply for construction projects. The Department also requested enterprises to strictly declare, post and publicize material prices according to regulations; not to hoard, stockpile, speculate, raise prices or cause difficulties in supplying materials for projects using State budget capital, public investment projects, projects, construction works, and infrastructure in the province.

For units licensed to exploit stone for common construction materials, the Department of Construction recommends studying and investing in additional artificial sand production lines, especially the production of finely crushed sand for plastering, to have more material supply for construction projects, maximizing the exploitation of licensed mineral resources.

Source: https://sxd.thanhhoa.gov.vn/thong-tin-hoat-dong-nganh/thanh-hoa-uu-tien-san-xuat-su-dung-cat-nhan-tao-trong-xay-dung-630489