Crushed stone, sand and gravel consumption increase

An estimated 367 million metric tons (Mt) of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the third quarter of 2013, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This is an 8 percent increase compared with the same period of 2012. The estimated production for consumption in the first nine months of 2013 was 904 Mt – a slight increase compared with the first nine months of 2012.

For construction sand and gravel, the estimated U.S. output produced and shipped for consumption in the third quarter of 2013 was 279 Mt. That’s an increase of 9 percent compared with the same period of 2012. The estimated production for consumption in the first nine months of 2013 was 657 Mt – a 3 percent increase compared with the same period of 2012.

In addition, an estimated 646 Mt of total construction aggregates was produced and shipped for consumption in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2013. That’s an increase of 8 percent compared with the same period of 2012. The estimated production for consumption in the first nine months of 2013 was 1.56 billion metric tons (Gt), an increase of almost 3 percent compared with the same 2012 period.

USGS shared statistics related to portland cement, as well. According to USGS, portland cement consumption increased 10 percent in the third quarter and was up 4 percent in the first nine months of 2013, compared with that of the same 2012 periods.

Regarding crushed stone, the estimated production-for-third-quarter consumption increased in all of the geographic divisions USGS measured, compared with what was sold or used in the third quarter of 2012. The largest increases were recorded in the West North Central (16 percent), Middle Atlantic (13 percent) and Pacific (9 percent) divisions. Production-for-consumption of crushed stone increased in 35 of the 46 states USGS estimated. The five leading states were, in descending order of production-for-consumption, Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Illinois and Ohio. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 121 Mt and represented 33 percent of the U.S. total.

The estimated production-for-consumption of construction sand and gravel in the third quarter of 2013 increased from third-quarter 2012 levels in eight of the nine geographic divisions. The largest increases in percentages were recorded in the East South Central (22 percent), the Middle Atlantic (16 percent) and the West South Central (12 percent) divisions. Production-for-consumption of construction sand and gravel increased in 32 of the 46 states estimated. The five leading states were, in descending order of production-for-consumption, California, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan and North Dakota. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 105 Mt and represented 38 percent of the U.S. total.

Also, the estimated production-for-consumption of aggregates in the third quarter of 2013 increased in all of the nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the third quarter of 2012. The largest increases in percentages were recorded in the East South Central (15 percent), the Middle Atlantic (14 percent) and the West North Central (12 percent) divisions. Production-for-consumption of aggregates increased in 35 of the 44 states that were estimated. The five leading states were, in descending order of production-for-consumption, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Ohio. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 183 Mt and represented 28 percent of the U.S. total.