UK Minerals Yearbook 2024 released
The annual publication provides essential information about the production, consumption and trade of UK minerals up to 2024.
21/05/2025 By BGS Press
Published annually by BGS, the UK Minerals Yearbook provides comprehensive statistical data on the production, consumption and trade of UK minerals. The yearbook includes definitive updates to inform decision makers, the minerals industry and those interested in the contribution of minerals to the national economy.
The UK is an important producer of a range of minerals that are consumed in many sectors of the economy, including construction and industry. In 2023, some 176.3 million tonnes of minerals were extracted from the UK landmass for sale both within the UK and internationally.
After the initial recovery in the mineral sector experienced post-COVID-19 (2022), economic uncertainty and decreased demand from the construction sector in particular resulted in reduced production of most minerals during 2023. One exception to this was a rise in the production of natural gypsum, due to the cessation of coal-fired power generation in the UK and the resultant loss of alternative desulphogypsum production.
| Mineral category | Millions of tonnes | % total production |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed rock (for both construction and industrial uses) | 121.5 | 69.0 |
| Sand and gravel | 37.4 | 21.2 |
| Other construction materials(not included in crushed rock) | 5.8 | 3.3 |
| Industrial minerals | 9.8 | 5.5 |
| Coal | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Oil and gas (oil equivalent) | 0.8 | 0.8 |
In 2023, a further 82.6 million tonnes, consisting mainly of oil and gas (oil equivalent) and marine-dredged sand and gravel, were extracted from the UK Continental Shelf.
Download the UK Minerals Yearbook from the Minerals UK website.
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