Rapid rise in sand and gravel use
A review of extraction data published in Reviews of Geophysics has found that global demand for sand and gravel — the principal raw material for concrete — has risen sharply in recent decades. Researchers compiling records that extend back to 1974 say demand more than doubled since 2000, and that in 2024 roughly 28 billion tonnes of sand and gravel were converted into concrete for cities and infrastructure projects.
Asia accounts for the bulk of the increase
The authors report that more than 80% of current demand originates in Asia, driven largely by urban development and road construction in countries such as China and India. Much of the material meeting that demand has been taken from riverbeds across Asia and Africa, according to the review.
Environmental consequences of overextraction
Where data are available, the study finds extraction rates frequently exceed the rate at which rivers naturally deliver and deposit sediment — in many cases by severalfold. The researchers link this imbalance to a range of environmental impacts including weakened riverbanks, lowered groundwater levels, increased salt intrusion into coastal aquifers, and declines in water quality.
Gaps in data complicate management
The authors note that comprehensive records of sand and gravel removal are scarce in many regions, making it difficult to assess the full scale of extraction and to manage it effectively. Where measurement exists, however, the imbalance between removal and natural replenishment is clear and concentrated in rapidly developing areas.
Calls for attention to supply and sustainability
The study frames the rising demand for concrete as a global challenge with local environmental consequences, particularly in riverine and coastal zones. By documenting the growth in consumption and the uneven geographic concentration of extraction, the authors underscore the need for better data and for policies that address the sustainability of sand and gravel resources as infrastructure programmes continue worldwide.