The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports U.S. mine and plant production data for 16 selected mineral commodities that are provided on a monthly (or quarterly) basis to the Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System (FRS), for use in preparing its index of industrial production and the related capacity indexes and capacity utilization rates.
In the aggregates industry we of course focus on USGS reports on crushed stone, and sand and gravel production, but it is informative to look at some of the other categories reported to FRS.
The combined production of construction-related materials (cement, construction sand and gravel, crushed stone, and gypsum) in the third quarter of 2023 increased by 4% compared with that in the second quarter of 2023 following the typical seasonal trend, but production in the third quarter of 2023 was 3% lower than that in the third quarter of 2022.
Production of construction sand and gravel, and crushed stone in the third quarter of 2023 were 7% and 3% higher, respectively, than that in the second quarter of 2023. Cement production was slightly lower and gypsum production was 3% lower in the third quarter of 2023 compared with that in the second quarter of 2023.
During the first nine months of 2023 compared with the first nine months of 2022, production increased for gypsum (1%) but decreased for construction sand and gravel (5%), cement (3%) and crushed stone (1%)
Phosphate rock production was an estimated 5% higher in the third quarter of 2023 than that in the second quarter of 2023 but was 2% lower in the first nine months of 2023 compared with that in the same time period in 2022. Soda ash production was 5% lower in the third quarter of 2023 compared with that in the second quarter of 2023 and was 2% lower in the first nine months of 2023 compared with that in the same time period in 2022.
These numbers are not bad, but there is plenty of room for improvement. We will be looking for that in 2024.
Mark S. Kuhar, editor
[email protected]
(330) 722‐4081
Twitter: @editormarkkuhar