Aggregate production up in third quarter

By |  December 1, 2014

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released third-quarter figures related to the production of total aggregates, crushed stone, and construction sand and gravel. Here’s a breakdown of each category:

Total aggregates

An estimated 683 million metric tons (Mt) of total aggregates was produced and shipped for consumption in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2014, an increase of 9 percent compared with figures from the third quarter of 2013. The estimated production-for-consumption in the first nine months of 2014 was 1.64 billion metric tons (Gt), an increase of 8 percent compared with figures from the same period of 2013.

According to USGS, the estimated production-for-consumption of total aggregates in the third quarter of 2014 increased in all nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the third quarter of 2013. The largest increases in percentages were recorded in the East North Central, East South Central and Mountain divisions USGS measures. Production-for-consumption increased in 32 of the 43 states that were estimated.

The five leading states, in descending order of production-for-consumption, were Texas, Ohio, California, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 208 Mt, an increase of 15 percent and represented 30 percent of the U.S. total.

Crushed stone

An estimated 393 Mt of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2014, an increase of 9 percent compared with figures from the third quarter of 2013. The estimated production-for-consumption in the first nine months of 2014 was 955 Mt, an increase of 8 percent compared with that of the same period of 2013.

The estimated production-for-consumption of crushed stone in the third quarter of 2014 increased in all nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the third quarter of 2013, according to USGS. The largest increases in percentages were recorded in the East North Central and Mountain divisions that USGS measures. Production-for-consumption increased in 37 of the 46 states that were estimated.

The five leading states, in descending order of production-for-consumption, were Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 140 Mt, an increase of 17 percent and represented 36 percent of the U.S. total.

Construction sand and gravel

The estimated U.S. output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption in the third quarter of 2014 was 290 Mt, an increase of 8 percent compared with figures from the third quarter of 2013. The estimated production-for-consumption in the first nine months of 2014 was 683 Mt, an increase of 8 percent compared with that of the same period of 2013.

According to USGS, the estimated production-for-consumption of construction sand and gravel in the third quarter of 2014 increased in seven of the nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the third quarter of 2013. The decreases in percentages were recorded in the New England and West South Central divisions USGS measures. Production-for-consumption increased in 33 of the 45 states that were estimated.

The five leading states, in descending order of production-for-consumption, were California, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan and Washington. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 108 Mt, an increase of 10 percent and represented 37 percent of the U.S. total.

Kevin Yanik

About the Author:

Kevin Yanik is editor-in-chief of Pit & Quarry. He can be reached at 216-706-3724 or kyanik@northcoastmedia.net.

Comments are closed