Aggregates Market Size & Outlook, 2026-2034

Aggregates Market Overview

The global aggregates market size was estimated at USD 620 billion in 2025 and is anticipated to grow from USD 638.6 billion in 2026 to USD 809 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 3% from 2026-2034. The global market is growing due to rapid urbanization, rising infrastructure investment, smart city initiatives, demand for sustainable construction materials, and expansion in real estate and transportation.

Key Market Insights

• Asia Pacific held a dominant share of the global aggregates industry with a market share of 43% in 2025.
• North America region is growing at the fastest pace, with a CAGR of 4.8%.
• Based on product type, the Sand and gravel is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.5%.
• Based on the application, Infrastructure, and civil works led with a market share of 52% in 2025.
• The U.S. dominates the market in 2025.

Market Size & Forecast

• 2025 Market Size: USD 620 billion
• 2034 Projected Market Size: USD 809 billion
• CAGR (2026-2034): 3%
• Asia-Pacific: Largest market in 2024
• North America: Fastest-growing region

The global market for aggregates supplies sand, gravel, crushed stone, and other granular materials that form the bulk of concrete, asphalt, and road base. Aggregates are fundamental to construction, foundations, pavements, buildings, and large civil works, and their demand closely tracks infrastructure investment, urbanisation, and construction activity. The market is also supported by demand for sustainable and recycled aggregates to reduce environmental impact.

Market Trends

Resource Pressure, Regulation, and the Rise of Recycled and Alternative Aggregates

Environmental and regulatory pressures are raising the strategic importance of recycled aggregates and substitutes. As a result, municipal authorities and large contractors increasingly require recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) or manufactured substitutes for specified applications, and some regions impose extraction limits or additional royalties. Manufacturers are monetizing this trend.

• For example, in July 2024, Heidelberg Materials inaugurated a recycling plant for the selective separation of demolition concrete near Katowice, Poland. The plant produces high-quality recycled aggregates equivalent to virgin sand and gravel under its “ReConcrete” process.

This trend favors companies that invest in recycling and processing demolition waste, as it not only reduces their environmental impact but also secures a supply chain in markets where natural quarrying is becoming difficult.

Asia-Pacific Demand Concentration and Infrastructure-Led Growth

A key trend is the geographic concentration of aggregate demand in the Asia-Pacific region, driven by rapid urbanization and large infrastructure projects. This region accounts for the majority of global concrete and infrastructure construction. The World Bank's 2024 Infrastructure Monitor, for example, shows continued public and private investment in transport and industrial projects across India, China, and Southeast Asia. These massive, multi-year projects sustain a huge demand for aggregates. This concentration gives a competitive advantage to companies with local quarries and efficient logistics, as aggregates are heavy, low-value goods.

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Market Drivers

Large Public Infrastructure Programmes and Renovation Cycles

Public infrastructure projects are a primary driver of aggregates demand. Governments worldwide have committed to multi-year infrastructure budgets for transport, energy, data, and water systems. This translates into sustained purchases of concrete and asphalt.

• For example, Australia’s ongoing M12 Motorway project has significantly consumed large quantities of aggregates in its construction, including over 3 million cubic metres of earthworks and 117,000 cubic metres of mainline road concrete.

Even a small increase in infrastructure spending can translate into millions of additional tonnes of aggregates. These large contracts create stable, long-term business for local suppliers and justify capital investments in new quarries.

Urbanisation and Housing Demand in Emerging Economies

Rapid urbanization and rising living standards in developing countries continue to drive residential and commercial construction, which are major consumers of aggregates. As megacities expand and national housing programs, particularly in India and Southeast Asia, move forward, aggregate demand grows in parallel. This steady, distributed demand is attractive because it helps to smooth out the seasonal and project-based volatility that can affect larger civil works. Companies with broad regional networks of quarries are well-positioned to benefit from this continuous consumption.

Market Restraint

Environmental Regulation, Social Licence, and Resource Depletion Concerns

Environmental concerns related to sand mining and quarrying, such as habitat loss and riverbank destabilization, have led to stricter regulations and local opposition. Scientific reviews have shown that sand extraction is exceeding sustainable rates in some regions. When authorities tighten permitting or impose higher taxes, operating costs for quarry operators increase, and project timelines are extended. The best high-quality deposits are often already exhausted, which forces longer and more expensive haul distances. These challenges are making investments in brownfield expansion and recycled aggregates more attractive.

Market Opportunity

Scale-up of Recycled and Manufactured Aggregates

The increasing pressure on natural aggregates supply and new regulations are creating a significant opportunity to scale up recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and other manufactured materials. Recycled aggregates are gaining acceptance for many applications, particularly in Europe and North America, where certification standards are mature. Companies are investing in plants that process demolition waste into a sellable product. This reduces their reliance on primary quarries and lowers transport costs.

• For instance, in November 2024, Aggregate Industries and Neustark set up a small-scale mobile plant in Greenwich, London, at an existing CDM (construction and demolition) recycling site. The plant processes fines recovered from demolition materials to produce recycled concrete aggregates.

Recent projects show the commercial viability of these recycled streams, which also align with corporate sustainability goals.

Regional Analysis

Asia Pacific accounted for 43% of the global aggregates market in 2025, maintaining its dominant position due to its immense construction activity, the largest share of the global population, and rapid urbanisation. The region accounts for the majority of global concrete and infrastructure projects, driven by multi-year initiatives across various countries. China’s large public works and urban projects, India’s national infrastructure push, and sustained Southeast Asian urban expansion create demand for aggregates measured in billions of tonnes. This sustained public investment, combined with large-scale private construction, makes the Asia Pacific the largest and most influential regional market for aggregates.

China remains the world’s largest aggregates consumer. The demand is fueled by ongoing urbanization, transport, and industrial projects. Large-scale government projects and integrated industrial upgrades sustain high-volume, multi-year demand for crushed stone, sand, and other fills. For example, major petrochemical expansions create a continuous need for aggregates. The government’s emphasis on domestic sourcing favors suppliers who can provide local manufacturing and strong logistics. Environmental controls on sand mining have also increased the use of manufactured and recycled aggregates.

India’s market for aggregates is propelled by a major national infrastructure program and rapid urban growth. In 2025, initiatives like the PM Gati Shakti program are creating consistent, large-scale demand for aggregates for roads, railways, and housing. Private-sector industrial expansions also contribute to demand. Local quarry ownership is crucial due to the low value and heavy nature of the material. Environmental restrictions on river sand mining are leading to greater demand for manufactured and recycled alternatives, especially in urban areas.

North America Market Trends

The North American aggregates market is witnessing the fastest growth, with a CAGR of 4.8%. The growth is fueled by policy-led infrastructure spending, resilience investments, and an accelerating shift to recycling and logistics optimisation. The U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) channels multi-year funds into roads, bridges, and ports, creating substantial demand for aggregates. This has spurred investment in quarries and logistics. At the same time, regional policies increasingly favor recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), which has created a new market for demolition processing plants. The combination of sustained federal funding and an emphasis on recycling and logistics makes North America a leader in growth.

The U.S. aggregates industry is driven by a large construction base and a major federal funding program. The IIJA provides a steady stream of demand for crushed stone and sand for highways, bridges, and ports. This predictable pipeline encourages suppliers to invest in quarries and logistics. The market is also seeing increased demand for recycled aggregates as part of circular construction practices. Large aggregates firms are responding by acquiring regional players to secure new reserves and expanding their logistics capabilities to serve major projects.

Canada’s market for aggregates is shaped by spatial distribution (long hauls in some provinces), strong regional public works, and a wave of renewable-fuel and industrial projects that require large quantities of base materials. Provincial infrastructure programmes, housing projects in growing metropolitan regions, and active permitting for quarry expansions sustain demand. Canada also places strong emphasis on recycled-material pathways for urban demolition, with several materials groups investing in local recycling yards and mobile crushing.

Europe Market Trends

Germany’s aggregates industry is anchored by its stable infrastructure and high-quality standards. The national push for industrial decarbonization and investments in transport and resilience influences the market. Public programs for hydrogen networks and industrial clusters create demand for high-quality crushed stone and engineered fills. While some project timelines face delays, the country’s strong engineering and R&D capabilities ensure a steady need for high-quality materials. Permitting for new quarries is strict, which is driving an increased focus on recycling and logistics efficiency among suppliers.

Product Type Insights

Sand and gravel are the largest single aggregates subsegment by global volume because they are the basic filler and fine or coarse constituents of virtually all concrete and asphalt mixes. They are widely available near construction sites, which reduces transport costs and makes them the default choice for most building and road projects. In many emerging economies, especially in Asia, rapid urbanisation, housing programmes, and transport expansion sustain massive annual sand and gravel demand.

Form Insights

Coarse aggregates are the largest segment by form. This includes gravel and crushed stone, which are essential for providing strength and stability to concrete and asphalt mixes. Their widespread use is directly tied to the scale and volume of construction projects. Coarse aggregates are indispensable for any project requiring a strong foundation, from multi-story buildings to major transportation networks. Their high demand in large-scale applications makes them the dominant form within the market.

Application Insights

Infrastructure and civil works led the application segment in 2025 with a 52% share of the market. This sector, which includes projects like roads, bridges, and rail, consumes the largest volume of aggregates. The drivers for this segment are large-scale, multi-year government programs and private investments in public works. For example, national infrastructure pipelines in countries like India and China are sustaining massive, predictable demand for aggregates. The sheer scale of these projects ensures that this application remains the primary driver of market growth.

Production Insights

Primary quarrying and river dredging are the leading subsegments by production. This method accounts for the vast majority of global aggregate production due to the sheer scale of demand. While recycled and manufactured aggregates are growing in importance, they still represent a small portion of the market. Primary production is driven by the availability of natural resources and the need for high-volume, cost-effective supply to meet the demands of large construction and infrastructure projects.

Competitive Landscape

The global market for aggregates is highly fragmented with vertically integrated materials groups and regional specialists. Integrated groups own quarries, cement plants, and ready-mix operations, which secure their supply chain and downstream offtake. They acquire competitors to secure new reserves and invest in rail and port logistics to reduce costs. Regional specialists, on the other hand, focus on local quarrying, mobile crushing, and recycling. The sector blends low-margin, high-volume operations with higher-margin, value-added services like material blending and on-site crushing. Strategic acquisitions and local permits are key to maintaining a strong market position.

Heidelberg Materials is a vertically integrated materials group with quarry, cement, and recycling operations. Its strategy blends reserve security, logistics (rail/port), and recycled-material expansion to serve construction and infrastructure customers. In 2025, the company expanded recycling capacity in North America through targeted acquisitions, integrating concrete-recycling yards and mobile crushing operations to capture urban demolition flows and supply recycled aggregates to local contractors.

Latest News

• In June 2025, Heidelberg Materials North America announced the acquisition of assets from Concrete Crushers Inc. (CCI), a recycled-aggregates yard and contract crushing business. This strengthens its recycled-aggregate footprint in Calgary.

List of key players in Aggregates Market

1. Heidelberg Materials
2. CRH plc
3. LafargeHolcim / Holcim
4. Cemex
5. Vulcan Materials
6. Martin Marietta
7. Boral
8. Breedon Group
9. Aggregate Industries (Heidelberg)
10. Hanson
11. Sibelco
12. Vulcan
13. Oldcastle
14. Heidelberg
15. Granite Construction
16. Cemex India
17. UltraTech.

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Recent Developments

• In July 2025, CRH announced an agreement to buy Eco Material Technologies for USD 2.1 billion. The acquisition is intended to secure low-carbon inputs and strengthen CRH’s North American supply of cementitious materials, supporting sustainable construction and aggregate-adjacent product offerings.
• In September 2024, Cemex acquired a majority stake in RC-Baustoffe, a Berlin-based recycler of construction, demolition, and excavation materials, to expand its Regenera circular business. The acquisition increases the facility’s ability to process CDM waste into repurposed aggregates.