First-quarter crushed-stone production down

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), an estimated 211 million metric tons (Mt) of crushed stone were produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the first quarter of 2013 – a decrease of 4 percent compared with the same period of 2012. The estimated annual output produced for consumption in 2012 was 1.16 billion metric tons (Gt).

Furthermore, the estimated production-for-consumption of crushed stone in the first quarter of 2013 increased in three of nine geographic divisions compared with the crushed stone sold or used in the first quarter of 2012. The largest increases were recorded in the Pacific and West South Central divisions.

Production-for-consumption decreased in 29 of the 46 states that were estimated. The five leading states were, in descending order of production-for-consumption, Texas, Missouri, Florida, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 85.6 Mt and represented an increase of 4 percent compared with the first quarter of 2012.

USGS estimates U.S. output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of 2013 was 141 Mt. This is a slight decrease compared with the first quarter of 2012. The estimated annual output produced for consumption in 2012 was 839 Mt – an increase of 4 percent compared with the reported annual output for 2011.

Regionally, the estimated production-for-consumption of construction sand and gravel in the first quarter of 2013 increased from first-quarter 2012 levels in three of nine geographic divisions. The largest increases in percentages were recorded in the Pacific and West South Central divisions.

Production-for-consumption decreased in 29 of the 46 states that were estimated. The five leading states were, in descending order of production-for- consumption, Texas, California, Arizona, Washington and Colorado. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 54.2 Mt, which is an increase of 7 percent compared with the first quarter of 2012.

The estimated U.S. output of construction aggregates produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of 2013 was 352 Mt, according to USGS. This is a decrease of 3 percent compared with the same period of 2012. The estimated annual output produced for consumption in 2012 was 2.00 Gt.

Furthermore, the estimated production-for-consumption of construction aggregates in the first quarter of 2013 increased in three of nine geographic divisions compared with the construction aggregates sold or used in the first quarter of 2012. The largest increases were recorded in the Pacific and West South Central divisions.

Production-for-consumption decreased in 30 of the 44 states that were estimated. The five leading states were, in descending order of production-for-consumption, Texas, Florida, California, Missouri and Pennsylvania. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 124 Mt and increased 6 percent when compared with the same period of 2012.

Portland cement consumption increased by 3 percent in the first quarter of 2013 compared with the first quarter of 2012.