Markets for Quarry Products

Although you may not always notice them, quarries dot the landscape across America. Quarries produce a wide range of needed rock and loose sedimentary products, including crushed stone, sand, gravel, and more. In fact, the total revenues that will be received from quarry operations in the United States are expected to exceed $14 billion in 2022.

How do quarries make money? Who buys their products? Let’s take a look.

Who Buys Products from Quarries

The major markets for quarries include government, construction companies, railroads, and utility companies.

• Government. From the federal level, down to individual states and municipalities, government entities are by far the biggest buyer of quarry products. They use crushed stone and other aggregates for roads building and maintenance, infrastructure development, and new buildings.
• Construction. New construction and the renovation of older structures or facilities involve the use of quite a bit of crushed stone and other solid-earth products. This is true for both residential as well as commercial construction projects. Among other things, quarry materials are used for roads, driveways, foundations, new buildings, cement, and parking lots.
• Railroads. Railroads buy quite a bit of crushed stone, referred to as ‘ballast’, from quarries. This product is used to underlie new rail routes and to repair and maintain existing rail lines.
• Utilities. Utility companies are involved with the laying of pipes and other energy-conveying infrastructure. For this, they use quite a bit of product from quarry operations.

Can a Quarry Help You or Your Business

If you need crushed stone, sand, gravel, or other quarry products for updates or repairs around your property, whether it is business or residential, then you might want to contact a nearby quarry. By buying directly from a quarry itself, you may be able to avoid or cut down on middlemen costs or haulage charges.