First-quarter aggregate production totals are in

By Kevin Yanik| May 30, 2023

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports that construction aggregate production decreased in the first quarter of 2023, with an 8.8 percent decrease in sand and gravel production offsetting a slight increase in the production of crushed stone.

USGS, which makes quarterly estimates about aggregate production based on information it gathers from a quarterly sample survey of aggregate producers, says roughly 459 million metric tons (Mt) of aggregates were produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter. A year ago, the agency estimated that 470 Mt of construction aggregates were produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of 2022.

According to USGS, first-quarter aggregate production decreased in four of its nine geographic divisions compared to regional totals from the first quarter of 2022.

Aggregate production decreased in 17 of the 41 states USGS tracked, with the five leading states in terms of aggregate production being Texas, Florida, California, Missouri and Georgia. The combined production of those five states was 152 Mt, a decrease of 8.7 percent versus the first quarter of 2022.

Crushed stone

Crushed stone production, at least, was up ever so slightly in the first quarter this year.

USGS reports that 300 Mt were produced and shipped for consumption across the U.S. in the quarter. That total is a 1.7 percent increase over USGS’s first-quarter 2022 estimate for crushed stone (295 Mt).

Regionally, USGS says crushed stone production increased in six of its nine geographic divisions compared with the prior-year quarter.

Additionally, the agency says production increased in 29 of the 45 states it tracked, with the five leading crushed stone-producing states being Texas, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Georgia. The combined production total for those five was 114 Mt – a number that’s on par with their combined total from the first quarter of 2022.

Sand and gravel

Sand and gravel production, meanwhile, took a significant dip in the first quarter, dropping 8.8 percent versus the first quarter of 2022.

The 160 Mt produced were 15 Mt fewer than the sand and gravel output from the prior-year period, with USGS noting that production decreased in four of its nine geographic divisions.

By state, USGS says first-quarter sand and gravel production dropped in 23 of the 44 states it measured. The top five sand and gravel-producing states in the quarter were Texas, California, Arizona, Florida and Colorado, whose combined production totaled 58.5 Mt. The combined total of those five is down 16.2 percent versus the first quarter of 2022.

Portland cement

USGS also notes that shipments of portland and blended cement were down 2.7 percent in the first quarter of 2023, capturing production information based on information collected from a survey of producing companies.