Patterns of Production

June 1, 2021 – The U.S. Geological Survey released its first-quarter 2021 production data, which saw sand and gravel production out-performing crushed stone production, a trend that has been evident for the past few quarters. Overall, the estimated U.S. output of construction aggregates produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of 2021 was 464 million metric tons (Mt), a slight increase compared with that of the same period of 2020, according to Jason Willett, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) commodity specialist. An estimated 286 Mt of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the first quarter of 2021, a slight decrease compared with that of the same period of 2020. The estimated U.S. output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of 2021 was 178 Mt, an increase of 6% compared with that of the same period of 2020. Production reports for the second and third quarters of the year should prove very interesting as aggregates producers move into the busiest time of the year. Within that timespan, it is likely we will also see a new infrastructure bill, setting up what could be a lucrative era for the industry.