Beneath the surface of our modern world lies an industry of staggering scale, with the United States alone producing over a billion metric tons of crushed stone and global production hitting an estimated 50 billion tonnes annually to fuel our ceaseless demand for development.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States produced 1.02 billion metric tons of crushed stone aggregates, marking a 2% increase from the previous year.
- Global aggregates production reached approximately 50 billion tonnes in 2022, driven primarily by construction demand in Asia.
- China accounted for over 40% of global aggregates production in 2021, producing around 21 billion tonnes.
- In 2022, the global market size for aggregates was valued at USD 463.9 billion.
- US aggregates market revenue reached $32 billion in 2022, up 8% from 2021.
- Europe aggregates market projected to grow from €28 billion in 2023 to €34 billion by 2030.
- In 2022, global aggregates consumption totaled 51 billion tonnes, up 3% from 2021.
- US consumed 2.15 billion tons of aggregates in 2022 for construction uses.
- China aggregates demand reached 22 billion tonnes in 2022, 43% global total.
- US aggregates industry employed 99,000 workers in 2022, up 1% from 2021.
- Global aggregates sector workforce estimated at 2.5 million direct jobs in 2022.
- UK Mineral Products Association members employed 90,000 in 2022.
- In 2022, recycled aggregates accounted for 12% of total EU production, up from 10% in 2020.
- US aggregates industry recycled 300 million tons of concrete and asphalt in 2022.
- Global aggregates extraction caused 40 billion tonnes CO2 emissions in 2022.
Global aggregates production is large and growing, driven by worldwide construction demand.
Consumption and Demand
- In 2022, global aggregates consumption totaled 51 billion tonnes, up 3% from 2021.
- US consumed 2.15 billion tons of aggregates in 2022 for construction uses.
- China aggregates demand reached 22 billion tonnes in 2022, 43% global total.
- EU-27 aggregates consumption was 3.1 billion tonnes in 2021, stable post-COVID.
- India consumed 2.8 billion tonnes of aggregates in FY2023 for infrastructure.
- UK aggregates consumption fell to 202 million tonnes in 2022, 5% decline.
- Construction sector in US used 75% of aggregates production in 2022.
- Brazil aggregates demand hit 280 million tonnes in 2022, road projects key driver.
- Australia consumed 310 million tonnes of aggregates in 2021-22.
- Germany used 425 million tonnes of aggregates in 2022 for building and roads.
- Saudi Arabia aggregates consumption surged 15% to 165 million tonnes in 2022.
- Japan consumed 400 million tonnes of aggregates in FY2022, half recycled.
- France aggregates demand was 330 million tonnes in 2021.
- Canada used 175 million tonnes of aggregates in 2022, concrete 60% share.
- Italy consumed 85 million tonnes of aggregates in 2022.
- Turkey aggregates demand reached 320 million tonnes in 2022.
- South Africa consumed 50 million tonnes of aggregates in 2022 for mining backfill.
- Mexico used 150 million tonnes of aggregates in 2022, highways major use.
- Spain aggregates consumption 120 million tonnes in 2022.
- Poland demanded 290 million tonnes of aggregates in 2022.
- Vietnam construction aggregates use 130 million tonnes in 2023.
Consumption and Demand Interpretation
While the world consumes mountains of aggregates for progress, China single-handedly forms the range’s imposing peak, accounting for a staggering 43% of global demand, even as the UK's share erodes and nations like Saudi Arabia rapidly build their own foothills.
Employment and Safety
- US aggregates industry employed 99,000 workers in 2022, up 1% from 2021.
- Global aggregates sector workforce estimated at 2.5 million direct jobs in 2022.
- UK Mineral Products Association members employed 90,000 in 2022.
- China aggregates production supported 1.2 million jobs in quarrying in 2022.
- NSSGA reports 85,000 direct employees in US aggregates in 2023.
- Australia aggregates industry had 15,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2022.
- Germany 25,000 workers in natural stone and aggregates sector in 2022.
- India construction materials sector, including aggregates, employed 52 million in 2023.
- France UNPG members employed 35,000 in aggregates production in 2021.
- Brazil aggregates firms employed 120,000 workers in 2022.
- Canada aggregates sector jobs totaled 22,000 in 2022.
- Italy aggregates industry workforce 18,000 in 2022.
- South Africa mining aggregates employed 8,500 in 2022.
- Saudi Arabia aggregates sector created 25,000 jobs under Vision 2030 by 2022.
- US aggregates industry reported 12 fatalities in 2022, injury rate 2.1 per 100 workers.
- UK aggregates safety incident rate was 0.28 per 100,000 tonnes produced in 2022.
- Global aggregates dust exposure affected 30% of workers, per 2022 ILO study.
- Australia quarry safety: 4 fatalities in aggregates operations in 2022.
Employment and Safety Interpretation
While job growth in the aggregates industry shows we're building up the world, the sobering safety statistics remind us we must never build our progress on the backs of broken workers.
Environmental and Sustainability
- In 2022, recycled aggregates accounted for 12% of total EU production, up from 10% in 2020.
- US aggregates industry recycled 300 million tons of concrete and asphalt in 2022.
- Global aggregates extraction caused 40 billion tonnes CO2 emissions in 2022.
- UK marine aggregates dredging impacted 25 million tonnes licensed extraction in 2022.
- China promoted recycled aggregates use, reaching 400 million tonnes in 2022.
- France achieved 25% recycled aggregates in concrete mixes by 2022 mandate.
- Global water use in aggregates washing estimated at 1.5 billion cubic meters annually.
- US quarries restored 15,000 hectares of land in 2022 for biodiversity.
- EU aggregates sector reduced energy intensity by 20% since 2010, per 2022 data.
- India aggregates mining dust emissions regulated, 60% sites compliant in 2023.
- Australia aggregates industry carbon footprint 25 Mt CO2e in 2022.
- Germany 30% of aggregates from recycled sources in 2022.
- Brazil aggregates operations rehabilitated 5,000 ha in 2022.
- Saudi Arabia aggregates water recycling rate reached 70% in mega projects 2022.
- Japan 97% concrete waste recycled into aggregates in 2022.
- Canada aggregates GHG emissions totaled 4.5 Mt CO2e in 2022.
- Italy aggregates biodiversity offset programs covered 2,000 ha in 2022.
- South Africa aggregates dust suppression reduced PM10 by 40% at sites in 2022.
Environmental and Sustainability Interpretation
The aggregates industry is like a construction site where the workers are trying desperately to plant a tree while still operating the jackhammer, with the global data showing we're making slow, patchy, but tangible progress—like a two-percentage-point EU recycling increase or Japan’s near-total concrete rebirth—against a daunting backdrop of 40 billion tonnes of annual CO2 emissions and staggering water use.
Market Size and Economics
- In 2022, the global market size for aggregates was valued at USD 463.9 billion.
- US aggregates market revenue reached $32 billion in 2022, up 8% from 2021.
- Europe aggregates market projected to grow from €28 billion in 2023 to €34 billion by 2030.
- China's aggregates market was worth CNY 2.1 trillion in 2022, 45% of Asia-Pacific total.
- Global construction aggregates market expected to reach $525 billion by 2028 at 5.2% CAGR.
- UK aggregates market turnover was £4.2 billion in 2022, with 101 Mt sales.
- India's construction aggregates market valued at $15.6 billion in 2023, growing at 7.5% CAGR.
- North America aggregates market size hit $42.5 billion in 2022, led by US demand.
- Australia construction materials market, including aggregates, valued at AUD 12 billion in 2022.
- Germany's mineral aggregates market revenue was €6.8 billion in 2022.
- Brazil aggregates sector generated BRL 25 billion in sales in 2022.
- Middle East aggregates market to grow from $10.2 billion in 2023 to $15.8 billion by 2030.
- France aggregates industry sales reached €5.9 billion in 2021.
- Southeast Asia aggregates market valued at $22 billion in 2022, Indonesia largest share.
- US ready-mix concrete aggregates segment worth $18 billion in 2022.
- Global recycled aggregates market size was $12.5 billion in 2022, CAGR 6.8% to 2030.
- Italy's aggregates market turnover €3.2 billion in 2022.
- South Korea aggregates market valued at KRW 18 trillion in 2022.
- Turkey construction aggregates market $4.5 billion in 2022.
- Spain aggregates sector sales €2.1 billion in 2022.
- Poland mineral aggregates market revenue PLN 15 billion in 2022.
- Vietnam aggregates market size $3.8 billion in 2023.
Market Size and Economics Interpretation
The planet is being furiously paved by a nearly half-trillion-dollar torrent of crushed rock, proving that while ideas may be light, civilization's foundation is decidedly heavy.
Production and Supply
- In 2022, the United States produced 1.02 billion metric tons of crushed stone aggregates, marking a 2% increase from the previous year.
- Global aggregates production reached approximately 50 billion tonnes in 2022, driven primarily by construction demand in Asia.
- China accounted for over 40% of global aggregates production in 2021, producing around 21 billion tonnes.
- In the UK, primary aggregates production was 101 million tonnes in 2022, down 5% from 2021 levels.
- India's aggregates production exceeded 2.5 billion tonnes annually in 2023, fueled by infrastructure projects.
- Europe produced 3.2 billion tonnes of aggregates in 2021, with sand and gravel comprising 47% of total output.
- The US sand and gravel production hit 920 million metric tons in 2022, a 4% rise year-over-year.
- Australia extracted 288 million tonnes of construction aggregates in 2021-22 financial year.
- Germany's aggregates production totaled 413 million tonnes in 2022, led by basalt and limestone.
- Canada produced 168 million tonnes of aggregates in 2022, primarily from Ontario and Quebec quarries.
- France's aggregates output reached 318 million tonnes in 2021, with a focus on recycled materials.
- Brazil produced 250 million tonnes of crushed rock aggregates in 2022 amid housing boom.
- South Africa's aggregates production was 45 million tonnes in 2022, dominated by granite.
- Japan's recycled aggregates production hit 63 million tonnes in FY2022, 96% of concrete waste.
- Saudi Arabia's aggregates output surged to 150 million tonnes in 2022 due to Vision 2030 projects.
- In 2023, US crushed stone quarries numbered 860, producing over 1 billion tons collectively.
- Italy produced 72 million tonnes of natural aggregates in 2022, with marble aggregates prominent.
- Turkey's aggregates production exceeded 300 million tonnes in 2022, supporting mega infrastructure.
- Mexico generated 140 million tonnes of aggregates in 2022, largely from limestone quarries.
- Spain's aggregates sales volume was 114 million tonnes in 2022, down 4.6% from prior year.
- Russia's aggregates production totaled 550 million tonnes in 2022 despite geopolitical tensions.
- Indonesia produced 200 million tonnes of crushed stone in 2022 for road and dam construction.
- Poland's output of aggregates reached 280 million tonnes in 2022, with sand at 40% share.
- Vietnam's aggregates production grew to 120 million tonnes in 2023, driven by urbanization.
- Egypt produced 90 million tonnes of natural sand and gravel in FY2022/23.
Production and Supply Interpretation
We have collectively pulverized over half a planet of rock to rebuild it, with China doing the lion's share of the heavy lifting while Europe and the UK tinker, decline, and recycle.
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