US crushed stone and sand and gravel in the first quarter 2010

An estimated 195 million tons of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the first quarter of 2010, a decrease of 11% compared with that of the same period of 2009. The estimated annual output produced for consumption in 2009 was 1.13 billion t, a 21% decrease compared with that of 2008.

The estimated US output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of 2010 was 122 million t, a decrease of 12% compared with that of the same period of 2009. The estimated annual output produced for consumption in 2009 was 782 million t, a 25% decrease compared with that of 2008.

An estimated 317 million t of total construction aggregates was produced and shipped for consumption in the US in the first quarter of 2010, a decrease of 11% compared with that of the same period of 2009. The estimated annual output produced for consumption in 2009 was 1.92 billion t, a 23% decrease compared with that of 2008.

The above estimates are based on information reported to the US Geological Survey (USGS) on its quarterly sample survey by construction aggregates producers.

The estimated portland cement consumption decreased by 15% in the first quarter of 2010 compared with that of the first quarter of 2009 and decreased by 27% for 2009, compared with consumption in 2008. This information is obtained from the USGS monthly survey of US cement producers.

This sample survey generates production-for-consumption estimates by quarters, based on information reported voluntarily by a limited number of producing companies. In most quarters, 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 almost never an indicator of the change in the demand in the State as a whole. The usual cause behind a large change can be attributed to the opening or closing of an operation, 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.

The estimated production-for-consumption of crushed stone in the first quarter of 2010 decreased in eight of the nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the first quarter of 2009. Based on a limited sample set, the New England division increased even though most companies decreased by an average of 12% compared with that of the same period of 2009. The largest decreases were recorded in the Mountain (27%) and the West South Central (14%) divisions. Production-for-consumption decreased in 35 of the 47 States that were estimated. The five leading States, in descending order of production-for-consumption, were Texas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Georgia. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 68.8 million t and represented 35% of the U.S. total.

The estimated production-for-consumption of construction sand and gravel in the first quarter of 2010 decreased from first quarter 2009 levels in all of the nine geographic divisions. The largest decreases in percentages were recorded in the Mountain (17%) and the Middle Atlantic (16%) divisions. Production-for-consumption decreased in 37 of the 46 States that were estimated. The five leading States, in descending order of production-for-consumption, were Texas, California, Arizona, Washington, and Utah. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 46.7 million t and represented 38% of the US total.

The estimated production-for-consumption of construction aggregates in the first quarter of 2010 decreased in eight of the geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the first quarter of 2009. The largest decreases in percentages were recorded in the Mountain (20%) and the East South Central (14%) divisions. Production-for-consumption decreased in 36 of the 48 States that were estimated. The five leading States, in descending order of production-for-consumption, were Texas, California, Florida, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 105 million t and represented 33% of the US total.

US Geological Survey

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