Aggregate production rebounds after six-quarter slide

Aggregate production is back on an upward swing.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports that aggregate production increased 5 percent in the third quarter, totaling 703 million metric tons.

The increase put an end to six consecutive quarters of aggregate volume declines in the U.S.

Year-over-year aggregate production is still down (1.76 billion metric tons versus 1.78 billion metric tons in 2024), although the nation’s third-quarter output gives the industry at least a chance to surpass last year’s total.

According to USGS, the top five aggregate-producing states in the third quarter were Texas, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Missouri. Their combined total production was 209 million metric tons – an increase of 5 percent compared with the third quarter of 2024.

Crushed stone

Crushed stone production helped drive total aggregate production higher, with third-quarter volumes up 7 percent to 441 million metric tons.

The nation’s crushed stone production through three quarters totals 1.1 billion metric tons. Through three quarters last year, crushed stone production was at 1.12 billion metric tons.

The top five crushed stone-producing states in the third quarter were Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio and Florida. These five accounted for 150 million metric tons.

Sand and gravel

Construction sand and gravel production was also up in the third quarter to 262 million metric tons, although its gain was just 0.7 percent.

Sand and gravel production is down 2 percent year over year to 657 million metric tons.

The top five sand and gravel-producing states in the third quarter were Texas, California, Minnesota, Michigan and Arizona. Their combined production was 98.8 million metric tons, an increase of 2 percent compared with the third quarter of 2024.