UK Minerals Yearbook 2021 available to download
The UK Minerals Yearbook 2021 provides essential information about the production, consumption and trade of UK minerals up to 2020.
11/04/2022 By BGS Press
The latest statistical data on minerals production in the UK is now available to download. The UK Minerals Yearbook 2021 provides essential information about the production, consumption and trade of UK minerals up to 2020.
Published annually by BGS, the yearbook includes definitive updates designed to inform decision makers, the minerals industry and those interested in the contribution of minerals to the national economy.
The UK produces over 270 million tonnes of minerals each year, contributing to the country’s construction, energy, manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
Coal production continues to decline (80 per cent since 2015) as the UK continues to move away from the use of coal for power generation. Also notable in 2020 is a decline in production of construction minerals, around 10 per cent compared to 2019. This is most likely a temporary reduction due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The UK Minerals Yearbook 2021 is available to view and download from the Minerals UK website.
Relative topics
You may also be interested in:
Critical raw materials
Addressing global concerns over the long-term availability of secure and adequate supplies of the minerals and metals needed by society.
Critical raw materials podcast
In this episode we discuss critical raw materials and the crucial role they will play as we move to a low-to-zero carbon economy
Latest news
From archive to discovery: historical mineral reports support gold exploration in Scotland
25/06/2026
Digitised geological records show potential to unlock untapped mineral resources in Ardlochan, Argyllshire.
UK and Philippines scientists investigate natural hydrogen generation processes at atomic scale
22/06/2026
BGS researchers were granted access to use the Diamond Light Source facility in order to study hydrogen in light brighter than the sun.
Shortage of end-of-life materials presents challenge to UK critical minerals security
17/06/2026
A new report by the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre reveals insufficient end-of-life material stocks present a supply risk over the coming decade, but offer significant long-term potential to meet critical mineral demand through recycling.
UK geothermal catalogue receives update
16/06/2026
BGS releases the second digital version of the UK geothermal catalogue of subsurface temperature and rock thermal conductivity measurements and heat flow calculations.
Scientists make new discovery in the history of the Giant’s Causeway
15/06/2026
New research is changing our scientific understanding of the formation of one of the UK’s most iconic landmarks and has revealed that Northern Ireland’s volcanic past occurred over a much shorter period than previously thought.
Latest research emphasises climate-related subsidence risk to millions of British homes
11/06/2026
New data from BGS highlights the projected future impact of warmer, drier summers and underlines the need for mitigation measures in susceptible regions.
Ukraine and the UK strengthen their commitment to geological cooperation
10/06/2026
A new Memorandum of Understanding reaffirms the UK’s support of Ukraine’s ambitions to develop its critical mineral resources, paving the way for collaboration through capacity-building programmes.
Newly released core could hold clues on potential mineral prospectivity in Perthshire
05/06/2026
A comprehensive collection of geological samples from the vicinity of a former mine in Scotland is now available to scientists for further research.
Latest data on world mineral production now available
25/05/2026
BGS has released the updated statistics on the global production of over 70 commodities between 2020 and 2024.
International science consortium to survey the health, economic value and social importance of Lake Victoria
22/05/2026
The project will replicate the 1927 survey to assess changes in the lake’s health, economic value and social importance.
New geological maps of Berwick-upon-Tweed to help future-proof natural water supply
20/05/2026
Scientists have mapped the geology under the town to better understand the groundwater system to inform decisions around abstraction.
BGS contributes to UN sand and sustainability report
19/05/2026
The new report highlights the impact of poor governance and unsustainable sand mining practices, calling on policymakers to take action.