Smart Sand Inc. announced results for the second quarter of 2023, reporting that tons sold were approximately 1,084,000 in the second quarter of 2023, compared to approximately 1,195,000 tons in the first quarter of 2023 and 1,196,000 tons in the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of 9% both sequentially and over the comparable period in 2022.
Revenues were $74.8 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $82.4 million in the first quarter of 2023 and $68.7 million in the second quarter of 2022. Revenues decreased in the second quarter of 2023, compared to the first quarter of 2023, due to lower tons sold in the second quarter of 2023 and contractual shortfall revenue recognized in the first quarter of 2023.
While tons sold were marginally lower in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of 2022, revenues increased as a result of higher average sales prices for our sand. Supply and demand fundamentals for Northern White sand have improved due to consistent demand for oil and natural gas leading to increased well completion activity, which has helped to support higher pricing for our sand.
Gross profit was $12.7 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $11.6 million in the first quarter of 2023 and $9.0 million in the second quarter of 2022. Gross profit improved in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2023 primarily due to lower seasonal production costs in spring and summer months and lower freight expenses due to a shift in the sales mix of the basins we delivered into. Gross profit improved for the second quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of 2022 primarily due to higher average sales prices for our sand.
“Smart Sand continued to deliver solid financial and operating results in the second quarter of 2023,” stated Charles Young, Smart Sand’s chief executive officer. Second quarter net income and Adjusted EBITDA were higher than comparable results for the first quarter of 2023 and the second quarter 2022. Our net cash provided by operating activities has been strong leading to almost $11 million in free cash flow in the second quarter of 2023. We had increased frac sales volumes into the Bakken through our Van Hook, N.D., terminal in the quarter and higher industrial product solutions sales.
“We continue to take advantage of our high quality Northern White asset base and superior logistics service offerings to deliver strong financial returns for our shareholders, he said. “We started up operations at our Blair, Wis., facility and delivered our first sand shipments into the Canadian market. This is a key Northern White frac sand market that we can now compete in. We also put our first belt system to work in our SmartSystems last mile operations. This belt allows much higher delivery of frac sand into the blender of the pressure pumping equipment while reducing our fleet maintenance expense.
“Additionally, our Industrial Products Solutions business had its best quarter to date, with sales volumes increasing by 70% over first quarter 2023 results, Young concluded. “We generated approximately $12 million in free cash flow and paid down approximately $12 million in debt in the first six months of 2023. Going into the third quarter, we believe the market fundamentals for Northern White sand continue to be positive and we plan to continue to build on the positive momentum we have achieved in the first six months of 2023.”