MPA report reveals the industry behind sustainable growth
Every person in the UK uses 5.8 tonnes of mineral products a year, according to new industry profile
EVERY person in the UK relies on around 5.8 tonnes of mineral products every year – enough to fill a large skip – according to the new ‘Profile of the UK Mineral Products Industry – 2025 Edition’, published last week by the Mineral Products Association (MPA).
These essential materials – from aggregates, concrete and asphalt to cement, lime, and a range of other industrial minerals – form the foundation and fabric of the UK’s built environment, manufacturing base, and transition to sustainable growth. Mineral products are indispensable for the delivery of homes, buildings and infrastructure, and critical inputs to other industries including steel, glass, ceramics, paper, chemicals and food production.
In total, the industry supplied 397 million tonnes of mineral products in 2023, generating £6.7 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) and supporting further £253 billion of UK economic activity through its downstream supply chain – equivalent to around 11% of national GDP. The sector also supported 89,000 jobs directly and helped to sustain an estimated 3.4 million jobs in other industries.
‘Mineral products are the foundation of the UK economy,’ said Aurelie Delannoy, director of economic affairs at the MPA. ‘Every home, road, hospital, factory – and even every wind turbine and solar panel – starts with these materials. As the UK transitions to a more sustainable, resilient and prosperous future, ensuring the long-term supply of these minerals is critical.’
The report warns that the availability of essential minerals is too often assumed rather than planned, highlighting the continuing decline in permitted reserves of construction aggregates. This trend poses risks to future supply and, in turn, to the delivery of infrastructure, housing, and Net Zero goals.
Also highlighted is the industry’s substantial contribution to sustainability, including:
63% reduction in CO2 emissions from UK cement and concrete production since 1990
31% of construction aggregates now sourced from recycled or secondary materials – among the highest rates in Europe
50 years of high-quality quarry restoration, creating over 8,000 hectares of new priority habitats and supporting nature recovery.
Ms Delannoy added: ‘The minerals underpinning our sector are abundant in the ground, but they need planning, permitting, and managing, and should never be taken for granted. Our industry continues to invest in decarbonization and resource recovery, and has been delivering Biodiversity Net Gain for decades before it became national policy. To be able to sustain the UK’s future growth depends on securing a long-term supply of domestically sourced essential materials.’
The ‘Profile of the UK Mineral Products Industry – 2025 Edition’ provides the most comprehensive overview of the materials, markets, and sustainability performance of an industry that, quite literally, forms the foundation of the UK economy. It is available to download here.
