QUARRYING UNDER PRESSURE
S outh Africa’s quarrying sector remains fundamental to the country’s infrastructure and industrial development, supplying the aggregates, sand and crushed stone required for roads, housing, water infrastructure, commercial construction and mining related projects. Yet despite the essential nature of these materials, the industry is operating in an increasingly challenging environment shaped by rising costs, logistics constraints, regulatory pressure and uncertain economic conditions. Among the sector’s most press- ing concerns is the rising cost of energy. Quarrying operations rely heavily on power intensive processes including crushing, screening, washing and conveying material. While load shedding has eased compared to the severe disruptions experienced in recent years, electricity tariffs continue to increase well above inflation, placing sustained pressure on operating margins. Escalating diesel prices are adding further strain, particularly for mobile equipment fleets and transport operations. Logistics remains another critical challenge. Aggregates are low
supplying concrete stone, road base and other construction inputs required for large scale energy infrastructure. At the same time, environmen- tal compliance requirements are becoming increasingly significant operational considerations. Quarry operators face growing pressure to demonstrate responsible envi- ronmental management around dust suppression, water use, noise control and site rehabilitation. While these measures are essential for sustainable resource development, compliance costs continue to rise, particularly for smaller and mid- sized operators. Illegal sand mining and unreg- ulated aggregate extraction also remain persistent concerns in sev- eral parts of South Africa. Beyond environmental damage, these activities create unfair competition for compliant producers that invest heavily in licensing, environmental management and labour standards. Capital investment decisions have meanwhile become more difficult in a high interest rate environment. Currency volatility and global supply chain pressures have increased the cost of imported equipment, spare parts and consumables, leading many operators to extend the life of existing plant rather than invest in new technologies. Skills shortages further com- pound operational pressures, with experienced artisans, plant operators, engineers and mainte- nance specialists remaining in high demand across both the mining and construction sectors. Despite these challenges, the long term outlook for South Africa’s quarrying industry remains closely tied to the country’s infrastruc- ture ambitions. Demand for quality aggregates will remain essential to economic development, urban expansion and industrial growth. The operators best positioned for future success will likely be those able to improve efficiency, embrace technological innovation and adapt to a more demanding operating environment.
margin, high volume products, making transport efficiency central to profitability. However, deteriorat- ing road infrastructure, congestion on key freight corridors and rising transport costs continue to erode margins across the sector. Ongoing rail constraints have increased dependence on road haulage, with transport now representing one of the largest components of delivered aggregate costs in many regions. The pace of infrastructure delivery also continues to influence market stability. Although govern- ment has repeatedly positioned infrastructure investment as a national priority, implementation delays, procurement bottlenecks and funding constraints have resulted in inconsistent demand patterns for construction materials producers. There are, however, encour- aging signs emerging across several sectors of the economy. Road rehabilitation programmes, renewable energy developments, water infrastructure upgrades and selected mining investments are beginning to stimulate renewed demand for aggregates and related materials. The expansion of wind and solar energy projects in partic- ular is expected to create sustained opportunities for quarry operators
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Wilhelm du Plessis quarrying@crown.co.za ADVERTISING Erna Oosthuizen ernao@crown.co.za DESIGN Ano Shumba
CIRCULATION Karen Smith MANAGING DIRECTOR Karen Grant PRINTED BY: Tandym Print
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY: Crown Publications P O Box 140
Bedfordview, 2008 Tel: +27 11 622 4770 www.crown.co.za
TOTAL CIRCULATION Q1 2026: 4 582
The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher.
Wilhelm du Plessis – Editor quarrying@crown.co.za
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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 2 | 2026
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