What this market covers
Sand, gravel and crushed stone used in concrete, asphalt, road base and fill. Quarries sell it to builders, who usually buy it near the site to limit haulage costs.
Typical segments
- Crushed stone
- Sand and gravel
- Recycled aggregate
- Lightweight aggregate
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +68% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +7% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €175.3 million of products under CN code 25171010 (Pebbles and gravel for concrete aggregates, for road metalling or for railway or other) from outside the EU in 2025. | 175.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 25171010 were up 68% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€104.6 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +68 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 25171010 to countries outside the EU were worth €95.9 million in 2025. | 95.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 25171010 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €319.3 million in 2025. | 319.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Norway was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 25171010 to the EU in 2025, with €101.6 million, or 58% of extra-EU imports. | 101.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 25171010 to the United States were €476 thousand in 2025. | 476 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 25171010 was €0.02 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 0.02 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| France was the largest EU exporter of CN 25171010 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €57.1 million. | 57.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 8,000 enterprises in NACE class B0812 (Operation of gravel and sand pits; mining of clays and kaolin) in 2023. | 8,000 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class B0812 had net turnover of €18.75 billion in 2023. | 18.75 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class B0812 employed 83,941 people across the EU in 2023. | 83,941 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 2,694 private establishments in NAICS 212321 (Construction sand and gravel mining) in 2025. | 2,694 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 212321 employed an average of 32,072 people in US private industry in 2025. | 32,072 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 212321 changed by +7% between 2020 (29,905 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +7 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 212321 was $87,720 in 2025. | 87,720 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 25171010, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 175328806
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 25171010, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 104591823; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 175328806
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 25171010, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 95943098
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 25171010, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 319340568
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 25171010, partner NO, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 101644549
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 25171010, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 476234
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 25171010, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 175328806, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 115385771
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter FR, product 25171010, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 57055715
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 B0812, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 8000
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 B0812, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 18749
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 B0812, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 83941
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 212321, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 212321, annual_avg_estabs 2694
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 212321, annual_avg_emplvl 32072
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 29905; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 32072
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 212321, avg_annual_pay 87720
- Figure 12
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Concrete and asphalt producers
- Road builders
- Building contractors
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU construction aggregate market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €175.3 million of goods under CN 25171010 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €95.9 million.
Where does the EU import construction aggregate from?
Norway was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included United Kingdom, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What is the average import price of construction aggregate in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €0.02 per kilogram for CN 25171010 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most construction aggregate?
France led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Germany, Austria.
How many US companies are in the construction aggregate industry?
BLS counts 2,694 private establishments in NAICS 212321 (Construction sand and gravel mining), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the construction aggregate industry?
Eurostat counts 8,000 enterprises in NACE class B0812 (Operation of gravel and sand pits; mining of clays and kaolin).
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