An estimated 599 Mt of total construction aggregates was produced and shipped for consumption in the fourth quarter of 2018, an increase of 5 percent compared with that of the same period of 2017, according to Jason Willett, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) crushed stone commodity specialist.
“The estimated annual output of construction aggregates produced for consumption in 2018 was 2.37 billion metric tons (Gt), an increase of 5 percent compared with that of 2017,” Willett said.
An estimated 359 million metric tons (Mt) of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the fourth quarter of 2018, an increase of 5 percent compared with that of the same period of 2017.
The estimated annual output of crushed stone produced for consumption in 2018 was 1.41 Gt, an increase of 4 percent compared with that of 2017.
The estimated output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption in the fourth quarter of 2018 was 241 Mt, an increase of 4 percent compared with that of the same period of 2017.
The estimated annual output of construction sand and gravel produced for consumption in 2018 was 961 Mt, an increase of 7 percent compared with that of 2017.
The above estimates are based on information reported to the USGS quarterly sample survey of construction aggregates producers in the United States.
Shipments of portland and blended cement increased by 2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with the fourth quarter of 2017. Annual consumption increased by 3 percent in 2018, compared with that of 2017. This information is obtained from the USGS monthly survey of U.S. cement producers.
The estimated production for consumption of construction aggregates in the fourth quarter of 2018 increased in seven of the nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the fourth quarter of 2017. In the fourth quarter, production for consumption increased in 17 of the 40 States for which production estimates of construction aggregates were made.
The five leading states in the fourth quarter of 2018 were, in descending order of production, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida. Their combined total production for consumption was 182 Mt (30 percent of the U.S. total).
The estimated total annual production for consumption of construction aggregates in 2018 increased, compared with that in 2017, in 34 of the 50 states for which estimates were made. The five leading States were, in descending order of total annual output for 2018, Texas, California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Their combined total annual output was 716 Mt, an increase of 7 percent when compared with that of 2017.
The estimated production for consumption of crushed stone in the fourth quarter of 2018 increased in seven of the nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the fourth quarter of 2017. Production for consumption increased in 25 of the 45 states for which production estimates of crushed stone were made.
The estimated production for consumption of construction sand and gravel in the fourth quarter of 2018 increased from fourth quarter 2017 levels in eight of the nine geographic divisions. Production for consumption increased in 21 of the 42 states for which production estimates of construction sand and gravel were made.