CRUSHED STONE AND SAND AND GRAVEL IN THE FIRST QUARTER 2016

An estimated 270 million metric tons (Mt) of crushed stone
was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States
in the first quarter of 2016, an increase of 21% compared with
that of the same period of 2015. The estimated annual output
produced for consumption in 2015 was 1.33 billion metric tons
(Gt), an increase of 7% compared with that of 2014.
The estimated U.S. output of construction sand and gravel
produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of
2016 was 173 Mt, an increase of 10% compared with that of the
same period of 2015. The estimated annual output produced for
consumption in 2015 was 937 Mt, an increase of 4% compared
with the annual output for 2014.
The estimated U.S. output of construction aggregates
produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of
2016 was 443 Mt, an increase of 16% compared with that of the
same period of 2015. The estimated annual output produced for
consumption in 2015 was 2.27 Gt, an increase of 6% compared
with the annual output for 2014.
The above estimates are based on information reported to the
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on its quarterly sample survey
by construction aggregates producers.
The estimated Portland cement consumption increased by
14% in the first quarter of 2016 compared with that of the first
quarter of 2015 with a 4% increase in 2015 compared with total
consumption in 2014. This information is obtained from the
USGS monthly survey of U.S. cement producers.
The quarterly 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 differ 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 reason for a large
change can be 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 2016 increased in all nine geographic
divisions compared with that sold or used in the first quarter of
2015. The largest increases in percentages were recorded in the
New England and the South Atlantic divisions. Production-forconsumption
increased in 37 of the 46 States that were
estimated. The five leading States were, in descending order of
production-for-consumption, Texas, Florida, Missouri, Georgia,
and Pennsylvania. Their combined total production-forconsumption
was 97.8 Mt and represented an increase of 17%
compared with that in the first quarter of 2015.
The estimated production-for-consumption of construction
sand and gravel in the first quarter of 2016 increased from first
quarter 2015 levels in seven of the nine geographic divisions.
The largest increases in percentages were recorded in the New
England and the Middle Atlantic divisions. Production-forconsumption
increased in 31 of the 45 States that were
estimated. The five leading States were, in descending order of
production-for-consumption, Texas, California, Washington,
Arizona, and Colorado. Their combined total production-forconsumption
was 66.0 Mt which was about the same as that in
the first quarter of 2015.
The estimated production-for-consumption of construction
aggregates in the first quarter of 2016 increased in seven of the
nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the
first quarter of 2015. The largest increases in percentages were
recorded in the New England, the Middle Atlantic and the South
Atlantic divisions. Production-for-consumption increased in 32
of the 43 States that were estimated. The five leading States
were, in descending order of production-for-consumption,
Texas, California, Florida, Missouri, and Georgia. Their
combined total production-for-consumption was 145 Mt and
increased by 11% when compared with that of the same period
of 2015.

Information obtained from National Minerals Information Center
U.S. Geological Survey http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/