Aggregate production fell again in the first quarter, marking the industry’s fifth consecutive quarterly decline.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that nationwide production dropped 6 percent year-over-year to 430 million metric tons. By comparison, USGS reported a 3.9 percent year-over-year decline in the first quarter of 2024.
According to the agency, the last quarterly increase in aggregate production occurred in the fourth quarter of 2023.
In this year’s first quarter, aggregate production declined across all nine geographic divisions the agency tracks. Production dropped in 32 of 40 states USGS measures, with the exceptions being Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, South Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee
The top five aggregate-producing states by volume in the quarter were Texas, California, Florida, North Carolina and Missouri. Their combined production total was 152 million metric tons.
Minnesota had the largest percentage increase in the first quarter, producing 12 percent more aggregates versus the first quarter of 2024. Kansas experienced the largest percentage drop, down 31 percent from the prior-year period.
Crushed stone
Of the estimated 430 million metric tons of aggregates produced in the first quarter, 273 million metric tons were crushed stone.
Crushed stone production was also down 6 percent in the first quarter versus the prior-year period.
Production was down in all nine of USGS’s geographic divisions. Production decreased in 38 of the 46 states the agency measured, with the exceptions being Arizona, Arkansas, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Missouri and Pennsylvania were the nation’s top five crushed stone-producing states in the first quarter by volume. Their combined total was 108 million metric tons.
Minnesota led all states with a 15.3 percent increase in crushed stone production. Michigan had the largest percentage decline, producing 37 percent less than the prior-year period.
Sand and gravel
Sand and gravel production, meanwhile, dropped 5 percent in the first quarter. The nation’s quarterly production totaled 156 million metric tons.
Production declined in all nine of USGS’s geographic divisions and in 32 of the 42 states USGS estimated. The 10 states that produced more sand and gravel in the first quarter were California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Utah.
By volume, the top five sand and gravel-producing states in the first quarter were Texas, California, Arizona, Washington and Florida. The five collectively produced 64 million metric tons.
North Dakota had the largest percentage increase in the quarter at 84.5 percent. Montana had the largest percentage drop at 31.7 percent.
About USGS’s data
USGS collects data for its quarterly production reports based on sample surveys of aggregate-producing companies. Producers share information voluntarily.
In addition to publishing quarterly data on aggregates, the agency shares information it collects about portland and blended cement. Based on data cement producers recently shared, USGS estimates shipments of portland and blended cement decreased 8 percent in the first quarter.
