Aggregate production up 8 percent across U.S.

An estimated 592 million metric tons of total construction aggregates were produced and shipped for consumption in the U.S. in the second quarter this year, an increase of 8 percent compared with the second quarter of 2013, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The estimated production for consumption in the first six months of 2014 was 961 million metric tons, an increase of 7 percent compared with the same period of 2013.

An estimated 346 million metric tons of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the second quarter of 2014, an increase of 8 percent compared with the second quarter of 2013. The estimated production for consumption in the first six months of 2014 was 567 million metric tons, an increase of 7 percent compared with that of the same period of 2013.

Also, construction sand and gravel production was up in the second quarter this year, as well. The estimated U.S. output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption in the second quarter was 246 million metric tons, an increase of 8 percent compared with the second quarter of 2013. The estimated production for consumption in the first six months of 2014 was 394 million metric tons. That’s an increase of 8 percent compared with the same period of 2013.

Portland cement consumption is also up. It increased by 9.3 percent in the second quarter of 2014 compared with the second quarter of 2013. Consumption in the first six months of 2014 increased by 6.9 percent compared with the same period of 2013.

For construction aggregates, the estimated production-for-consumption in the second quarter of 2014 increased in eight of the nine geographic divisions USGS measures, compared with that sold or used in the second quarter of 2013. The largest increases in percentages were recorded in USGS’ Mountain, South Atlantic, and Pacific divisions. Production-for-consumption increased in 34 of the 43 states that were estimated. The five leading states, in descending order of production-for-consumption, were Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Ohio. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 171 million metric tons, an increase of 4 percent and represented 29 percent of the U.S. total.

The estimated production-for-consumption of crushed stone in the second quarter of 2014 increased in eight of the nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the second quarter of 2013. Production-for-consumption increased in 37 of the 46 states USGS estimated. The five leading states, in descending order of production-for-consumption, were Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Florida and Kentucky. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 116 million metric tons, an increase of 5 percent. The five represented 33 percent of the U.S. total.

The estimated production-for-consumption of construction sand and gravel in the second quarter of 2014 increased in two of the nine geographic divisions USGS measures, compared with that sold or used in the second quarter of 2013. The decreases in percentages were recorded in USGS’ Middle Atlantic and East South Central divisions. Production-for-consumption increased in 32 of the 45 states that were estimated. The five leading states, in descending order of production-for-consumption, were Texas, California, Washington, Minnesota and Colorado. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 84.6 million metric tons, an increase of 13 percent. The five represented 34 percent of the U.S. total.