Price of common clay in the U.S. 2010-2024

The average price of the construction material common clay stood at about 18 U.S. dollars per ton in the United States as of 2024. 

United States clay industry

The United States production of refined clay accounts for about one-quarter of global production, excluding common clay and shale. In the U.S., clay is primarily used for floor and wall tiles (ball clay), as pet waste absorbents and drilling mud (bentonite), and as brick, lightweight aggregate, and cement (common clay).

What is clay and what is it used for?

Clay is a natural rock or soil material with a fine grain which usually contains clay minerals. The color of clay can also vary greatly, from white to brown to an orange-red, depending on the soil’s content. Clays can be quite plastic when mixed with water, hard when it is dried, and permanently altered both physically and chemically if heated. Clay can be used for decorative purposes and as construction products such as bricks and tiles. Loam, a mixture of clay, silt, and sand, is one of the oldest building materials in the world. An estimated one-third of the world's population still reside in buildings created with clay. The versatility of clay makes it an ideal substance for a variety of natural building techniques.