The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the estimated U.S. output of construction aggregates produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of 2024 was 455 million metric tons (Mt), a decrease of 3.9% compared with that of the same period of 2023.
Major companies reported significant decreases in construction aggregates shipments due to poor weather conditions (Martin Marietta Materials, Summit Materials, Inc. and Vulcan Materials Co.), according to Jason Christopher Willett, commodity specialist, National Minerals Information Center.
The five leading states were, in descending order of production-for-consumption, Texas, Florida, California, Missouri and Ohio. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 151 Mt, a slight decrease when compared with that of the same period of 2023.
By specific commodity:
- An estimated 292 Mt of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the first quarter of 2024, a decrease of 4.6% compared with that of the same period of 2023.
- The estimated U.S. output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of 2024 was 163 Mt, a decrease of 2.8% compared with that of the same period of 2023.
- Shipments of portland and blended cement decreased by 2.7% in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2023. This information was obtained from the USGS monthly survey of U.S. cement producers.
The above estimates are based on information reported to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on its quarterly sample survey by construction aggregates producers.
This sample survey generates production-for-consumption estimates by quarters, based on information reported voluntarily by a limited number of producing companies. Often, a few companies may report amounts sold in the current quarter that vary greatly from the amounts 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.