Industry Analysis & Industry Trends
The Gravel, Sand and Clay Extraction industry is expected to generate revenue of about £2.04 billion in 2011-12, compared with £5.69 billion in 2006-07. Industry revenue is expected to fall at an average annual rate of 18.6% over this period, primarily reflecting the disastrous effect of the global financial crisis on construction activity in the United Kingdom. The output and prices of materials such as gravel, sand and clay plunged over the past five years.
Industry revenue, having slumped in earlier years, is expected to remain essentially flat in 2011-12, after stagnating in 2010-11. Government stimulus spending is largely responsible for preventing a further decline. The industry is expected to account for well under 0.1%.. purchase to read moree
Industry Report - Industry Products Chapter
The extraction of gravel and sand generates most of the industry's revenue. About one quarter of sand and gravel production involves dredging from the UK's seabed, mainly from the waters around England.
Mining various types of clay generates about 14% of industry revenue. Clays mined comprise kaolin (also known as China clay), ball clay, fire clay, brick clay and shale. Kaolin is used primarily as a coating pigment and filler in paper manufacturing, but is also used to manufacture ceramics, and as a filler in paint, rubber and plastic. Ball clay is mainly used in the production of ceramic whiteware, such as sanitary ware, floor and wall tiles and table ware, while fire clay is used to manufacture building products, mainly high quality facing bricks... purchase to read more