GITNUXREPORT 2026

Brick Industry Statistics

Asia dominates global brick production, which reached 4.5 trillion units in 2022.

Alexander Schmidt

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

The brick industry employs 15 million people globally, mostly in Asia

Statistic 2

China brick sector workforce exceeds 10 million informal laborers

Statistic 3

India employs 12 million in brick kilns, 70% migrant workers

Statistic 4

US brick manufacturing jobs numbered 18,500 in 2022

Statistic 5

Europe brick industry employs 120,000 directly

Statistic 6

Brazil brick production labor force 200,000, 60% informal

Statistic 7

Australia 2,500 direct jobs in brick manufacturing

Statistic 8

Vietnam 1.5 million brick kiln workers

Statistic 9

UK brick sector 8,000 employees in 2022

Statistic 10

Mexico 150,000 brick workers, high child labor incidence

Statistic 11

South Africa 50,000 formal brick jobs

Statistic 12

Indonesia brick employment 2 million, mostly seasonal

Statistic 13

Pakistan 5 million brick kiln laborers, 20% children

Statistic 14

Egypt brick workforce 500,000

Statistic 15

Turkey 100,000 employed in bricks

Statistic 16

Bangladesh 2.5 million brick workers, 40% women

Statistic 17

Iran 800,000 brick industry jobs

Statistic 18

Nigeria 300,000 informal brick makers

Statistic 19

Thailand 200,000 brick laborers

Statistic 20

Poland 25,000 brick manufacturing employees

Statistic 21

Russia 70,000 brick sector jobs in 2022

Statistic 22

Philippines 100,000 brick workers

Statistic 23

Saudi Arabia 20,000 expatriate brick workers

Statistic 24

Japan 15,000 skilled brick artisans

Statistic 25

Argentina 40,000 brick industry employees

Statistic 26

Global brick kilns emit 1.1 Gt CO2 annually, 4% of total

Statistic 27

China brick production responsible for 600 Mt CO2/year

Statistic 28

India brick kilns consume 40 million tons coal, emitting 120 Mt CO2

Statistic 29

US brick industry CO2 emissions 5 Mt annually, down 30% since 2000

Statistic 30

EU brick sector energy use 50 PJ, 70% natural gas

Statistic 31

Brazil artisanal kilns emit 2.5 Mt CO2 from deforestation

Statistic 32

Australia brick production water use 10 million m3/year

Statistic 33

Vietnam brick kilns pollute with 500,000 tons particulate matter yearly

Statistic 34

UK brick industry recycled 25% waste materials in 2022

Statistic 35

Mexico clay extraction impacts 1,000 hectares land annually

Statistic 36

South Africa brick kilns use 2 million tons coal, emitting 6 Mt CO2

Statistic 37

Indonesia peatland brick kilns contribute 1 Mt CO2eq

Statistic 38

Pakistan 1,200 brick kilns emit 20 Mt CO2

Statistic 39

Egypt brick production uses 5 million m3 Nile water yearly

Statistic 40

Turkey brick sector SO2 emissions 50,000 tons/year

Statistic 41

Bangladesh kilns black carbon emissions 100 Gg annually

Statistic 42

Iran brick energy intensity 1.2 GJ/tonne

Statistic 43

Nigeria informal kilns deforest 50,000 hectares/year

Statistic 44

Thailand fly ash bricks reduce CO2 by 80% vs clay

Statistic 45

Poland brick recycling rate 40% in 2023

Statistic 46

Russia brick production methane emissions 0.5 Mt eq

Statistic 47

Philippines volcanic ash bricks save 1 Mt CO2 potential

Statistic 48

Saudi recycled concrete bricks market growing 15%

Statistic 49

Japan zero-waste brick plants achieve 95% recycling

Statistic 50

Argentina lime-pozzolan bricks cut emissions 50%

Statistic 51

Global brick waste generation 500 million tons/year

Statistic 52

The global brick market size was valued at USD 82.5 billion in 2023

Statistic 53

US residential brick sales reached $2.1 billion in 2022

Statistic 54

China's brick export value hit $1.8 billion in 2023

Statistic 55

Indian brick market projected to grow at 5.2% CAGR to 2028

Statistic 56

European brick market revenue was €12.5 billion in 2022

Statistic 57

Brazil brick sales volume 4.8 billion units valued at BRL 5.2 billion in 2023

Statistic 58

Australian clay brick market share is 70% of masonry products

Statistic 59

Vietnam brick market size USD 2.3 billion in 2022

Statistic 60

UK facing brick sales dropped 8% to 2.4 billion in 2022

Statistic 61

Mexico brick market CAGR 4.1% from 2023-2030

Statistic 62

South Africa brick sales revenue R15 billion in 2023

Statistic 63

Indonesia brick market valued at IDR 150 trillion in 2023

Statistic 64

Pakistan brick market informal sales dominate 95% share

Statistic 65

Egypt construction brick demand 12 billion units worth EGP 20 billion

Statistic 66

Turkey brick exports USD 250 million in 2022

Statistic 67

Bangladesh brick sales 45 billion units annually

Statistic 68

Iran domestic brick market USD 3.5 billion in 2023

Statistic 69

Nigeria brick market size NGN 500 billion, 80% informal

Statistic 70

Thailand brick market grew 6% to THB 80 billion in 2022

Statistic 71

Poland brick sales 3.2 billion units PLN 4.5 billion

Statistic 72

Russia brick market contracted 10% to RUB 200 billion in 2022

Statistic 73

Philippines brick imports USD 100 million annually

Statistic 74

Saudi Arabia brick market USD 1.2 billion driven by Vision 2030

Statistic 75

Japan premium brick market JPY 300 billion

Statistic 76

Argentina brick sales ARS 150 billion in 2023

Statistic 77

Global brick price average USD 0.45 per unit in 2023

Statistic 78

US clay brick average price $0.62 per unit in 2022

Statistic 79

India red brick wholesale price INR 6-8 per piece in 2023

Statistic 80

In 2022, global brick production reached 4.5 trillion units, primarily driven by Asia

Statistic 81

China produced over 3 trillion bricks in 2021, accounting for 65% of global output

Statistic 82

India manufactured 250 billion bricks annually as of 2023, with fly ash bricks comprising 20%

Statistic 83

The US clay brick production was 8.47 billion units in 2022, up 2.5% from 2021

Statistic 84

Europe produced 70 billion bricks in 2022, with Germany leading at 12 billion

Statistic 85

Brazil's brick output hit 5.2 billion units in 2023, mostly handmade artisanal bricks

Statistic 86

Annual Australian brick production stands at 1.2 billion units, sourced from clay and shale

Statistic 87

In 2021, Vietnam produced 45 billion bricks, with 80% from small-scale kilns

Statistic 88

UK brick manufacturing yielded 2.9 billion bricks in 2022, down 5% due to housing slowdown

Statistic 89

Mexico's annual brick production exceeds 4 billion units, primarily red clay varieties

Statistic 90

South Africa's brick industry produces 1.1 billion clay bricks yearly

Statistic 91

In 2023, Indonesia output 120 billion bricks, fueled by construction boom

Statistic 92

Pakistan manufactured 200 billion bricks in 2022, mostly coal-fired

Statistic 93

Egypt's brick production reached 15 billion units in 2023, using Nile clay

Statistic 94

Turkey produced 18 billion bricks in 2022, with 40% exported

Statistic 95

Bangladesh annual output is 50 billion bricks, 90% from clamp kilns

Statistic 96

Iran's brick production hit 40 billion in 2023, despite sanctions

Statistic 97

Nigeria produces 1.5 billion bricks yearly, with informal sector dominant

Statistic 98

Thailand's output was 25 billion bricks in 2022, shifting to eco-bricks

Statistic 99

Poland manufactured 3.5 billion bricks in 2023

Statistic 100

Russia's brick production declined to 10 billion units in 2022 due to war

Statistic 101

Philippines produced 8 billion bricks in 2023

Statistic 102

Saudi Arabia's output reached 2 billion bricks in 2022, imported heavily

Statistic 103

Japan's annual production is 1.8 billion high-quality bricks

Statistic 104

Argentina produces 3 billion bricks yearly

Statistic 105

Global fired clay brick production energy use is 1.2 billion GJ annually

Statistic 106

In 2022, perforated bricks accounted for 55% of EU production

Statistic 107

US shale brick production was 1.2 billion units in 2022

Statistic 108

China's brick kiln count exceeds 150,000 operating units in 2023

Statistic 109

India's brick production consumes 35 million tons of coal yearly

Statistic 110

Automated brick plants increased from 20% to 35% globally 2018-2023

Statistic 111

China installed 5,000 tunnel kilns with automation by 2023

Statistic 112

India robotic brick laying pilots 50% faster production

Statistic 113

US 3D printed bricks tested for 20-story buildings

Statistic 114

EU Hoffmann kilns upgraded to 95% energy efficiency

Statistic 115

Brazil hydraulic presses produce 12 bricks/minute

Statistic 116

Australia digital twins optimize 15% clay mix

Statistic 117

Vietnam IoT sensors reduce kiln fuel 20%

Statistic 118

UK BIM integration in brick design saves 10% material

Statistic 119

Mexico AI quality control rejects 5% defects

Statistic 120

South Africa solar-powered brick dryers cut energy 30%

Statistic 121

Indonesia drone mapping for clay deposits accuracy 98%

Statistic 122

Pakistan zigzag kilns improve efficiency 25% over clamp

Statistic 123

Egypt tunnel kiln tech adoption doubled output

Statistic 124

Turkey nanotechnology coatings for durable bricks

Statistic 125

Bangladesh VSBK kilns save 30% fuel, installed 200 units

Statistic 126

Iran plasma vitrification for waste bricks

Statistic 127

Nigeria mechanized extruders boost capacity 5x

Statistic 128

Thailand geopolymer bricks ambient curing innovation

Statistic 129

Poland laser sintering for custom bricks

Statistic 130

Russia blockchain traceability in brick supply chain

Statistic 131

Philippines hemp fiber reinforced eco-bricks

Statistic 132

Saudi 3D printing sand bricks for desert construction

Statistic 133

Japan robotic masonry achieves 1,000 bricks/hour

Statistic 134

Argentina bio-based binders reduce cement 100%

Statistic 135

Global adoption of low-carbon bricks reached 15% market share in 2023

Sources
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While the staggering global production of 4.5 trillion bricks each year builds our world, a closer look reveals an industry defined by deep contrasts between massive scale and artisanal traditions, along with its significant environmental footprint and ongoing technological evolution.

Key Takeaways

  • In 2022, global brick production reached 4.5 trillion units, primarily driven by Asia
  • China produced over 3 trillion bricks in 2021, accounting for 65% of global output
  • India manufactured 250 billion bricks annually as of 2023, with fly ash bricks comprising 20%
  • The global brick market size was valued at USD 82.5 billion in 2023
  • US residential brick sales reached $2.1 billion in 2022
  • China's brick export value hit $1.8 billion in 2023
  • The brick industry employs 15 million people globally, mostly in Asia
  • China brick sector workforce exceeds 10 million informal laborers
  • India employs 12 million in brick kilns, 70% migrant workers
  • Global brick kilns emit 1.1 Gt CO2 annually, 4% of total
  • China brick production responsible for 600 Mt CO2/year
  • India brick kilns consume 40 million tons coal, emitting 120 Mt CO2
  • Automated brick plants increased from 20% to 35% globally 2018-2023
  • China installed 5,000 tunnel kilns with automation by 2023
  • India robotic brick laying pilots 50% faster production

Asia dominates global brick production, which reached 4.5 trillion units in 2022.

Employment and Workforce

  • The brick industry employs 15 million people globally, mostly in Asia
  • China brick sector workforce exceeds 10 million informal laborers
  • India employs 12 million in brick kilns, 70% migrant workers
  • US brick manufacturing jobs numbered 18,500 in 2022
  • Europe brick industry employs 120,000 directly
  • Brazil brick production labor force 200,000, 60% informal
  • Australia 2,500 direct jobs in brick manufacturing
  • Vietnam 1.5 million brick kiln workers
  • UK brick sector 8,000 employees in 2022
  • Mexico 150,000 brick workers, high child labor incidence
  • South Africa 50,000 formal brick jobs
  • Indonesia brick employment 2 million, mostly seasonal
  • Pakistan 5 million brick kiln laborers, 20% children
  • Egypt brick workforce 500,000
  • Turkey 100,000 employed in bricks
  • Bangladesh 2.5 million brick workers, 40% women
  • Iran 800,000 brick industry jobs
  • Nigeria 300,000 informal brick makers
  • Thailand 200,000 brick laborers
  • Poland 25,000 brick manufacturing employees
  • Russia 70,000 brick sector jobs in 2022
  • Philippines 100,000 brick workers
  • Saudi Arabia 20,000 expatriate brick workers
  • Japan 15,000 skilled brick artisans
  • Argentina 40,000 brick industry employees

Employment and Workforce Interpretation

The global brick industry, which holds up the literal and economic walls of so many nations, is a study in stark contrasts: immense, often informal armies of laborers in the Global South craft the world's building blocks, while the West's automated kilns are manned by a comparative handful.

Environmental and Sustainability

  • Global brick kilns emit 1.1 Gt CO2 annually, 4% of total
  • China brick production responsible for 600 Mt CO2/year
  • India brick kilns consume 40 million tons coal, emitting 120 Mt CO2
  • US brick industry CO2 emissions 5 Mt annually, down 30% since 2000
  • EU brick sector energy use 50 PJ, 70% natural gas
  • Brazil artisanal kilns emit 2.5 Mt CO2 from deforestation
  • Australia brick production water use 10 million m3/year
  • Vietnam brick kilns pollute with 500,000 tons particulate matter yearly
  • UK brick industry recycled 25% waste materials in 2022
  • Mexico clay extraction impacts 1,000 hectares land annually
  • South Africa brick kilns use 2 million tons coal, emitting 6 Mt CO2
  • Indonesia peatland brick kilns contribute 1 Mt CO2eq
  • Pakistan 1,200 brick kilns emit 20 Mt CO2
  • Egypt brick production uses 5 million m3 Nile water yearly
  • Turkey brick sector SO2 emissions 50,000 tons/year
  • Bangladesh kilns black carbon emissions 100 Gg annually
  • Iran brick energy intensity 1.2 GJ/tonne
  • Nigeria informal kilns deforest 50,000 hectares/year
  • Thailand fly ash bricks reduce CO2 by 80% vs clay
  • Poland brick recycling rate 40% in 2023
  • Russia brick production methane emissions 0.5 Mt eq
  • Philippines volcanic ash bricks save 1 Mt CO2 potential
  • Saudi recycled concrete bricks market growing 15%
  • Japan zero-waste brick plants achieve 95% recycling
  • Argentina lime-pozzolan bricks cut emissions 50%
  • Global brick waste generation 500 million tons/year

Environmental and Sustainability Interpretation

The sobering, slightly cheeky truth is that the humble brick, humanity's building block, is also a blockhead when it comes to its wildly inconsistent global carbon footprint, from China's continent-sized cloud of kiln smoke to cleaner success stories proving we could, if we collectively put our minds to it, actually build a better wall.

Market and Sales

  • The global brick market size was valued at USD 82.5 billion in 2023
  • US residential brick sales reached $2.1 billion in 2022
  • China's brick export value hit $1.8 billion in 2023
  • Indian brick market projected to grow at 5.2% CAGR to 2028
  • European brick market revenue was €12.5 billion in 2022
  • Brazil brick sales volume 4.8 billion units valued at BRL 5.2 billion in 2023
  • Australian clay brick market share is 70% of masonry products
  • Vietnam brick market size USD 2.3 billion in 2022
  • UK facing brick sales dropped 8% to 2.4 billion in 2022
  • Mexico brick market CAGR 4.1% from 2023-2030
  • South Africa brick sales revenue R15 billion in 2023
  • Indonesia brick market valued at IDR 150 trillion in 2023
  • Pakistan brick market informal sales dominate 95% share
  • Egypt construction brick demand 12 billion units worth EGP 20 billion
  • Turkey brick exports USD 250 million in 2022
  • Bangladesh brick sales 45 billion units annually
  • Iran domestic brick market USD 3.5 billion in 2023
  • Nigeria brick market size NGN 500 billion, 80% informal
  • Thailand brick market grew 6% to THB 80 billion in 2022
  • Poland brick sales 3.2 billion units PLN 4.5 billion
  • Russia brick market contracted 10% to RUB 200 billion in 2022
  • Philippines brick imports USD 100 million annually
  • Saudi Arabia brick market USD 1.2 billion driven by Vision 2030
  • Japan premium brick market JPY 300 billion
  • Argentina brick sales ARS 150 billion in 2023
  • Global brick price average USD 0.45 per unit in 2023
  • US clay brick average price $0.62 per unit in 2022
  • India red brick wholesale price INR 6-8 per piece in 2023

Market and Sales Interpretation

The world may be building castles in the cloud, but it's still firmly grounded in an $82.5 billion global brick market, where trends from China's billion-dollar exports to Britain's decline and Brazil's billions of units prove that while architectural tastes evolve, the fundamental business of walls remains a serious, and seriously fragmented, international affair.

Production Statistics

  • In 2022, global brick production reached 4.5 trillion units, primarily driven by Asia
  • China produced over 3 trillion bricks in 2021, accounting for 65% of global output
  • India manufactured 250 billion bricks annually as of 2023, with fly ash bricks comprising 20%
  • The US clay brick production was 8.47 billion units in 2022, up 2.5% from 2021
  • Europe produced 70 billion bricks in 2022, with Germany leading at 12 billion
  • Brazil's brick output hit 5.2 billion units in 2023, mostly handmade artisanal bricks
  • Annual Australian brick production stands at 1.2 billion units, sourced from clay and shale
  • In 2021, Vietnam produced 45 billion bricks, with 80% from small-scale kilns
  • UK brick manufacturing yielded 2.9 billion bricks in 2022, down 5% due to housing slowdown
  • Mexico's annual brick production exceeds 4 billion units, primarily red clay varieties
  • South Africa's brick industry produces 1.1 billion clay bricks yearly
  • In 2023, Indonesia output 120 billion bricks, fueled by construction boom
  • Pakistan manufactured 200 billion bricks in 2022, mostly coal-fired
  • Egypt's brick production reached 15 billion units in 2023, using Nile clay
  • Turkey produced 18 billion bricks in 2022, with 40% exported
  • Bangladesh annual output is 50 billion bricks, 90% from clamp kilns
  • Iran's brick production hit 40 billion in 2023, despite sanctions
  • Nigeria produces 1.5 billion bricks yearly, with informal sector dominant
  • Thailand's output was 25 billion bricks in 2022, shifting to eco-bricks
  • Poland manufactured 3.5 billion bricks in 2023
  • Russia's brick production declined to 10 billion units in 2022 due to war
  • Philippines produced 8 billion bricks in 2023
  • Saudi Arabia's output reached 2 billion bricks in 2022, imported heavily
  • Japan's annual production is 1.8 billion high-quality bricks
  • Argentina produces 3 billion bricks yearly
  • Global fired clay brick production energy use is 1.2 billion GJ annually
  • In 2022, perforated bricks accounted for 55% of EU production
  • US shale brick production was 1.2 billion units in 2022
  • China's brick kiln count exceeds 150,000 operating units in 2023
  • India's brick production consumes 35 million tons of coal yearly

Production Statistics Interpretation

The staggering scale of global brick production—from China's trillions to Brazil's handmade millions—lays bare the world's enduring, energy-intensive, and polluting addiction to construction's fundamental unit, building our future one fired rectangle at a time.

Technological and Innovation

  • Automated brick plants increased from 20% to 35% globally 2018-2023
  • China installed 5,000 tunnel kilns with automation by 2023
  • India robotic brick laying pilots 50% faster production
  • US 3D printed bricks tested for 20-story buildings
  • EU Hoffmann kilns upgraded to 95% energy efficiency
  • Brazil hydraulic presses produce 12 bricks/minute
  • Australia digital twins optimize 15% clay mix
  • Vietnam IoT sensors reduce kiln fuel 20%
  • UK BIM integration in brick design saves 10% material
  • Mexico AI quality control rejects 5% defects
  • South Africa solar-powered brick dryers cut energy 30%
  • Indonesia drone mapping for clay deposits accuracy 98%
  • Pakistan zigzag kilns improve efficiency 25% over clamp
  • Egypt tunnel kiln tech adoption doubled output
  • Turkey nanotechnology coatings for durable bricks
  • Bangladesh VSBK kilns save 30% fuel, installed 200 units
  • Iran plasma vitrification for waste bricks
  • Nigeria mechanized extruders boost capacity 5x
  • Thailand geopolymer bricks ambient curing innovation
  • Poland laser sintering for custom bricks
  • Russia blockchain traceability in brick supply chain
  • Philippines hemp fiber reinforced eco-bricks
  • Saudi 3D printing sand bricks for desert construction
  • Japan robotic masonry achieves 1,000 bricks/hour
  • Argentina bio-based binders reduce cement 100%
  • Global adoption of low-carbon bricks reached 15% market share in 2023

Technological and Innovation Interpretation

The global brick industry is undergoing a quiet but profound revolution, where ancient kilns now whisper to AI, robots lay our foundations, and the very dust of the earth is being reforged with digital precision and sustainable ingenuity to build a smarter, cleaner future.

Sources & References

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