Against the backdrop of unprecedented global changes in a century, uncertainty in the global economic landscape intensified in 2025, with uncontrollable variables multiplying. Domestically, the real estate sector underwent profound adjustments, growth in infrastructure investment slowed, and the complexities and deep-seated challenges facing the aggregates, and equipment industries became increasingly pronounced, leading to heightened competition among enterprises. Navigating these intricate domestic and international dynamics, the industry as a whole broke through challenges with perseverance, grew through innovation, fulfilled the "Dual Carbon" mission via green transformation, expanded industrial space through integrated development, and continued advancing toward intensification, greening, intelligentization/application of smart technologies, diversification, and internationalization.
I. The State Council has released its proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan, setting the tone for real estate and infrastructure development over the next five years.
The proposals call for: accelerating the establishment of a new model for real estate development to build safe, comfortable, green, and smart “quality housing”; constructing a modern infrastructure system with appropriately advanced new infrastructure; improving a modern integrated transportation system; and advancing the development of dual-use public infrastructure for both urban normal operations and emergency response. Accordingly, the China Sand and Gravel Association has organized experts to initiate preliminary research for formulating the 15th Five-Year Development Plan for China's sand and gravel industry. This effort aims to comprehensively summarize the achievements and shortcomings of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, analyze future directions, lay the groundwork for scientifically drafting the industry's 15th Five-Year Plan, and provide high-quality materials to support national infrastructure and “quality housing” construction during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
II. Multiple Departments Issue Documents to Strengthen Foundations for High-Quality Development in the AggregatesIndustry.
The National Development and Reform Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation issued the Announcement on Addressing Disorderly Price Competition and Maintaining Sound Market Price Order, clarifying that for key industries with prominent issues of disorderly price competition, guidance will be provided to industry associations and relevant institutions to conduct cost research and assessments. This will provide a basis for reasonable pricing and facilitate the development of relevant cost recognition standards. The Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration issued the Announcement on Clarifying the Implementation Criteria for Resource Tax Policies, specifying the resource tax collection policies for “engineering sand and gravel” and “tailings sand and gravel.” The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the People's Bank of China jointly released the Notice on Utilizing Green Finance Policies to Support the Construction of Green Factories, proposing to reduce corporate financing costs through tools such as green credit and bonds to support the green transformation of the aggregates industry.
III. Implementation of The New Mineral Resources Law Brings Major Changes to Aggregates Mining Management.
As manufactured sand and crushed stone have become the primary source of aggregate supply in China, they now constitute the nation's most abundant and largest-volume mineral category. The implementation of The Mineral Resources Law establishes comprehensive management of aggregates extraction across all aspects—from exploration planning and mineral rights acquisition to extraction, processing, and forest/land use. This legislation provides crucial legal support for the industry's future development, significantly advancing standardized management of aggregates mines while safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises.
IV. Central Authorities Call for Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Action
The Central Economic Work Conference emphasized implementing a comprehensive solid waste management action, intensifying efforts to safeguard blue skies, clear waters, and clean soil, and strengthening control over emerging pollutants. The State Council has deployed a comprehensive solid waste management initiative. The State Council executive meeting emphasized the need to resolutely curb the growth of solid waste. Following the principles of reduction, resource utilization, and harmless disposal, a comprehensive solid waste management system should be established that integrates source reduction, process control, end-use utilization, and full-chain harmless management. Priority should be given to managing solid waste closely related to public life and production safety. As a key disposal and utilization channel for construction waste, tailings, waste rock, and excavated debris, the aggregates industry boasts substantial scale and strong solid waste absorption capacity, serving as a vital pillar for the comprehensive solid waste management initiative.
V. Significant shifts in the market demand structure for aggregatesand related equipment.
Signals from the annual "Two Sessions" at the beginning of the year and the Central Economic Work Conference at year-end have emphasized accelerating the development of a new real estate model. Urban renewal, renovation of aging residential communities in towns, construction of “quality housing,” and projects under the “Two Major Projects” have emerged as new drivers for high-quality aggregates demand, leading to a marked transformation in the market structure for both aggregates and related equipment. Among these, the sequential commencement and accelerated advancement of a series of mega-projects—including the hydropower projects along the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, the Xinjiang-Xizang Railway, the Changsha-Ganzhou High-Speed Railway, the Shenzhen-Zhuhai Channel, the Zhejiang-Jiangxi-Guangdong Canal, and the Diversion Project from Dadu River to Minjiang River—have further stimulated demand for high-quality aggregates, and equipment, while also creating new growth opportunities for crushing and screening equipment.
VI. The 12th AggregatesIndustry Technology Conference and the 2025 High-Quality Development Conference for the AggregatesIndustry were successfully held.
Hosted by the China Aggregates Association, these two major industry events brought together leaders from national ministries and local governments, industry experts and scholars, heads of regional industry associations, and representatives from aggregates enterprises and their upstream and downstream supply chains. Participants systematically analyzed the operational status of the aggregates industry and its upstream and downstream sectors against the backdrop of international and domestic economic conditions, assessed shifts in market demand, identified challenges and opportunities under the new circumstances, and explored pathways for green, low-carbon, and high-quality development.
VII. Continuous Advancement in Standardization Systems.
The Technical Specifications for Biomass Gasification Rock-Breaking Technology in Supercritical Liquefied Air Energy Storage (LAES) take effect on October 24, 2025. The Green Aggregates Engineering Quota Series Group Standards (comprising five standards) and the Credit Rating Evaluation Specifications for Aggregates Enterprises was implemented on January 1, 2026. The Technical Procedures for Water-Washed Sand Processing will take effect on February 1, 2026. The English versions of the national standards Sand for Construction and Pebbles and Crushed Stone for Construction, along with the building materials industry standard Technical Procedures for Manufactured Sand and Crushed stone Production and four group standards including Technical Requirements for Parent Rock of Manufactured Sand and Crushed Stone, have passed review. The national vocational skill standard Aggregate Production Worker has passed preliminary review. Multiple standards, including the Engineering Technical Specifications for Dust Removal in Manufactured Sand and Crushed stone Production, have completed the public consultation phase. After nearly a decade of concerted industry-wide efforts, the aggregates industry's standard system—encompassing national, industry, group, local, and enterprise standards—has become increasingly comprehensive, effectively supporting the industry's standardized and high-quality development.
VIII. Technological innovations drive industry quality upgrades.
Over 20 aggregates-related technologies were included in the Ministry of Natural Resources' Advanced and Applicable Technologies for Mineral Resource Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization (2025 Edition), with 19 recommended by China Aggregates Association. Integrated smart mining solutions and unmanned technologies/equipment for complex operating environments were included in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's First Batch of Advanced Applicable Technologies List; intelligent manufacturing system solutions for manufactured sand and crushed tone plants were listed in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Catalogue of Technologies and Products Encouraged for Promotion and Application in the Building Materials Industry (2025 Edition). Technological innovation projects from enterprises including Shanghai SANME Mining Machinery Corp., Ltd., Jiangsu Shanbao Group, Shandong Xinjinshan Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd., Xiamen ISO Standard Sand, and Guangxi MESDA have received provincial or industry-level science and technology awards. Some products have won international design awards. Zhejiang Mining Heavy Industry and Shunda Heavy Mining have launched new large-scale, high-efficiency, low-cost gyratory crushers, demonstrating the core driving role of technological innovation in industry development. The paper “Demand for Declining Sand and Gravel Resources in China and Prospects for Circular Transformation,” jointly completed by Tsinghua University's Department of Chemical Engineering and other institutions, was published in the international journal Nature Communications.
IX. Establishment of the Eighth Council of the China AggregatesAssociation.
The Association convened its Eighth Membership Conference, electing the Eighth Council and the First Supervisory Board. It continues to chart the course for transformative development during the industry's period of profound adjustment, driving green, low-carbon, and high-quality growth.
X. Accelerating Talent Development to Meet Challenges.
Strengthening internal capabilities remains an enduring theme for industries and enterprises in responding to external challenges. The China Aggregates Association, in collaboration with research institutions and local industry associations, hosted the 9th Advanced Training Program for Technical and Management Personnel in the Aggregates Industry and the Quality Management Technical Personnel Training Program for the Aggregate Industry. Renowned experts and scholars were invited to provide professional guidance and training to technical and management personnel from enterprises across the country in the sand and gravel, equipment, and upstream/downstream industries. The sessions focused on trend insights, technological empowerment, standard benchmarking, and practical skill enhancement. Notably, the Quality Management Technicians Training Program was the first collaboration with local industry associations, aiming to advance high-quality industry development and meet the demand for quality materials in “quality housing” construction.
XI. Intensified Market Competition in the Yangtze River Basin and Pearl River Delta Region.
The Yangtze River Basin and Pearl River Delta Region, which had been widely favored by the industry and prioritized for development in recent years, saw sustained declines in aggregates prices throughout 2025. From December 2024 to December 2025, prices in these two regions fell by 14.7% and 15.9% respectively, further intensifying survival pressures for enterprises. Particularly noteworthy is Shanghai, often regarded as the “barometer” of the aggregates market, where construction sand experienced both volume and price declines. As large-scale aggregates mines approved in previous years gradually come online and ramp up production capacity, regional market competition will intensify further. Caution is advised for enterprises planning to invest in quarries or establish sand and gravel production lines in this region, and comprehensive market research must be conducted beforehand.
XII. Market Downturn Drives Innovation in Collaboration Models and Cross-Border Integration.
Examples such as Beijing Huaxia Jianlong Mining Technology Co., Ltd. signing a direct aggregate procurement and supply contract with China National Building Materials Group East China Materials (Beijing) Co., Ltd., PowerChina Bureau 8 delivering the first shipment of aggregate products from the Changlai project to China West Construction Group, and the Dongchu Transportation Construction Group partnering with Huaxin Aggregate Co., Ltd. to establish a supply chain company demonstrate that innovative supply chain collaboration models are effective pathways to reduce intermediate costs and optimize resource allocation. The launch of Hainan’s first mining rights project based on "clean mining rights(Mining rights transfer with pre-completed procedures) + linkage between increase and decrease in construction land(The "Linkage between Increase and Decrease in Construction Land" policy aims to balance urban expansion with rural land rehabilitation) + full-process digitalization," as well as the completion of the first online aggregates sales contract on PowerChina’s green aggregates integrated sales platform, mark the successful integration of new technologies from big data and intelligent systems with the aggregates industry. The announcement of the auction for medium and coarse sand related to the second phase of the Qianshan River Ecological Comprehensive Management and Water System Connectivity Project in Anqing City, Anhui Province, reflects the emergence of new transaction models such as "sand-for-equity" in the natural sand market.
XIII. Multiple Regions Introduce New Regulations for High-Quality Development of the Aggregates Industry.
The Action Plan for Upgrading and Enhancing the Building Materials Industry in Henan Province proposes extending the industrial chain by supporting companies to expand into areas such as manufactured sand, ready-mix concrete, and prefabricated construction, and fostering an integrated "Cement Plus" full-industry-chain service provider model.
The Several Policy Measures for Promoting Integrated Development of Highways in Yunnan Province (Trial) encourages municipal governments to legally use aggregates resources as valuation assets through market-based mechanisms to cover funding gaps in completed, ongoing, and newly planned highway projects, and promotes the recycling of qualified solid waste as road construction materials in compliance with technical standards.
Zhuhai’s Notice on Further Regulating the Utilization and Management of Sand, Stone, and Soil in Construction Projects specifies that for projects funded by municipal or higher-level finance or state-owned enterprises, 80% of the proceeds from sand, stone, and soil disposal shall belong to the municipal treasury, while 20% shall go to the district treasury. For projects funded by sub-municipal finance, sub-municipal state-owned enterprises, or other investors, the proceeds shall be allocated to the district treasury where the project is located.
XIV. Major Aggregate Projects Commence Production or Accelerate Construction.
China Power Construction has initiated trial production with materials at the processing zone of its 55 million-ton-per-year sand and gravel mine in Yunfu, Guangdong, while a 40 million-cubic-meter marine sand project has been launched in Shanwei, Guangdong.
China Energy Engineering’s 16 million-ton-per-year project in Zhaoqing, Guangdong, and a 10 million-ton-per-year project in Daling, Hainan, have been put into operation.
The 9.9 million-ton-per-year construction stone quarry project in Yazhou District, developed by Hainan State Farms and others, has commenced operations…
Large-scale sand and gravel projects that became operational in 2025 share common characteristics:
first, they produce high-quality aggregates;
second, their products are supplied to specific construction projects.
Against the backdrop of continuously dampened future expectations for the aggregates industry, many large-scale projects have begun to expedite construction and production, driving accelerated transformation and upgrading of the industry while enhancing product quality.
XV. Declining Prices and Increasing Failures in AggregatesMining Rights Auctions.
A simultaneous drop in market volume and prices has led to a deep chill in mining rights auctions. The Natural Resources Bureau of Du’an Yao Autonomous County in Hechi, Guangxi, issued a sixth auction notice for stockpiled limestone for construction use in zones A and B of the Anyang Yilitunwan limestone quarry. Compared with the initial starting price of 2.1 million yuan, the price has been lowered by approximately 1.4 million yuan. The previous five auctions all failed to sell due to a lack of registered bidders.
A limestone mine with nearly 100 million tons of reserves in Yuncheng, Shanxi, failed to sell.
A sand and gravel mine in Yangxi, Guangdong, with a starting price of 297 million yuan, received no bids and failed to sell.
A sand and gravel mine in Anhui with over 70 million tons of reserves and a starting price of 630 million yuan also received no bids and failed to sell.
Across the country, failures to sell sand and gravel mines and river sand resources have occurred repeatedly.
XVI. China Aggregates Association Attends the 8th Global Aggregates Information Network (GAIN) Meeting held in Spain.
Industry peers from over 30 countries participated in the meeting to discuss sustainable development, with the Chinese delegation showcasing Chinese wisdom and solutions. The meeting scheduled the 9th Global Aggregates Information Network Meeting to be held in China in October 2026. Concurrently, the Chinese delegation visited Ireland, Belgium, Spain to exchange insights and conduct field studies on green mining, circular economy, and smart manufacturing, strengthening international industry collaboration. Against the backdrop of China's aggregate industry transitioning from supply shortages to overcapacity, the experiences and practices of developed countries are particularly valuable for learning.
XVII. Internationalization Enters a New Phase.
Enterprises have transitioned from the “going global” model focused on product exports and technology transfers to a “in-depth internationalization” approach characterized by industrial chain collaboration, standard system exports, cross-border resource integration, and localized operations. This shift has become a key growth driver for the industry's high-quality development. Companies such as Huaxin Building Materials, Hongda Blasting, Shanghai Shibang, Zhejiang Mining Heavy Industry, Guangdong Leimeng, Zhejiang Shuangjin, Oriental Yuhong, Southern Road Machinery, and Shunda Heavy Mining have continuously deepened international cooperation and industrial implementation in areas like mine construction, aggregate production, and equipment manufacturing. By establishing multinational operational systems, these enterprises have rapidly enhanced their global competitiveness.