USGS: No Growth in Total Aggregates Production for 2017

LN031518 USGS

An estimated 572 million metric tons (Mt) of total construction aggregates was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2017, an increase of 6 percent compared with that of the same period of 2016, according to Jason Willett, USGS crushed stone commodity specialist. The estimated total output of construction aggregates produced for consumption in 2017 was 2.26 billion metric tons (Gt,) about the same as that of 2016. 

The estimated production for consumption of construction aggregates in the fourth quarter of 2017 increased in seven of the nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the fourth quarter of 2016. In the fourth quarter, production for consumption increased in 28 of the 43 states for which production estimates of construction aggregates were made. 

The five leading states in the fourth quarter of 2017 were, in descending order of production, Texas, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida. Their combined total production of construction aggregates was 163 Mt, 29 percent of the U.S. total. 

The estimated total production for consumption of construction aggregates in 2017 increased, compared with that in 2016, in 30 of the 50 states for which estimates were made.

The five leading states were, in descending order of total annual output for 2017, Texas, California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Their combined total annual output was 650 Mt, 29 percent of the U.S. total, and a slight decrease compared with that of 2016.

An estimated 339 Mt of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2017, an increase of 4 percent compared with that of the same period of 2016. The estimated total output of crushed stone produced for consumption in 2017 was 1.35 Gt virtually the same as that of 2016. 

The estimated production for consumption of crushed stone in the fourth quarter of 2017 increased in seven of the nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the fourth quarter of 2016. Production for consumption increased in 29 of the 44 States for which production estimates of crushed stone were made. 

The estimated U.S. output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption in the fourth quarter of 2017 was 233 Mt, an increase of 10 percent compared with that of the same period of 2016. The estimated total output of construction sand and gravel produced for consumption in 2017 was 906 Mt, a slight increase compared with that of 2016. 

The estimated production for consumption of construction sand and gravel in the fourth quarter of 2017 increased from fourth quarter 2016 levels in eight of the nine geographic divisions. Production for consumption increased in 32 of the 43 states for which production estimates of construction sand and gravel were made. 

The above estimates are based on information reported to the USGS quarterly sample survey by crushed stone and construction sand and gravel producers.

Shipments of portland and blended cement increased by 4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared with that of the fourth quarter of 2016. Annual consumption increased slightly in 2017, compared with that of 2016. This information is obtained from the USGS monthly survey of U.S. cement producers. 

This sample survey generates production-for-consumption estimates by quarter, based on information reported voluntarily by a limited number of producing companies. Often, a few companies may report quantities sold in the current quarter that vary greatly from what was reported in the previous year during the same quarter. This change in sales is rarely an indicator of the change in the demand in the State as a whole. Typically, a large change in sales can be attributed to the opening or closing of an operation, the weather, or an external force that only the company or one of its operations experienced in that quarter. Previously reported data are occasionally revised, and the estimated quantities for the prior quarters are then recalculated. The latest release of the quarterly Mineral Industry Surveys contains the most recent estimated totals and supersedes previously published reports.

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