Crushed stone and sand and gravel production increased by 8 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

During the quarter, 367 Mt (404 million st) of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the U.S. The estimated production for consumption in the first nine months of 2013 was 904 Mt (996 million st) which is also an increase from the first nine months of 2012.

The USGS estimates that the U.S. output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption in the third quarter of 2013 was 279 Mt (307 million st), a 9-percent rise over the third quarter of 2012. The estimated production for consumption in the first nine months of 2013 was 657 Mt (724 million st), a 3-percent increase compared with the same period of 2012. The report estimates 646 Mt (712 million st) of total construction aggregates was produced and shipped for consumption in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2013, an 8-percent increase over the third quarter of 2012. The estimated production for consumption in the first nine months of 2013 was 1.56 Gt (1.72 billion st), an increase of almost 3 percent compared to the same period of 2012.

The estimates are based on information reported to the USGS quarterly sample survey by crushed stone and construction sand and gravel producers.

USGS estimates that portland cement consumption increased by 10 percent in the third quarter of 2013 and was up 4 percent in the first 9 months of 2013 compared to the same periods of 2012. The report notes that estimated production-for-consumption of crushed stone in the third quarter of 2013 increased in all of the geographic divisions compared to product sold or used in the third quarter of 2012. West North Central, the Middle Atlantic and the Pacific divisions saw the largest increases, experiencing increases of 16 percent, 13 percent and 9 percent, respectively.

Production-for-consumption of crushed stone increased in 35 of the 46 states that were estimated. Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Illinois and Ohio saw the largest increases, providing a combined total of 121 Mt (133 million st) of production-for-consumption of crushed stone and representing 33 percent of the U.S. total.

Eight of the nine geographic divisions saw a rise in the estimated production-for-consumption of construction sand and gravel in the third quarter of 2013 compared to third quarter 2012 levels. The East South Central, Middle Atlantic and West South Central divisions saw the highest increases, experiencing increases of 22 percent, 16 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

Production-for-consumption of construction sand and gravel increased in 32 of the 46 states that were estimated. California, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan and North Dakota led with the most production-for-consumption, providing a combined total of 105 Mt (115 million st) and representing 38 percent of the U.S. total. The estimated production-for-consumption of aggregates in the third quarter of 2013 increased in all of the nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the third quarter of 2012. The East South Central, Middle Atlantic and West North Central divisions saw the largest increases, experiencing increases of 15 percent, 14 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

Production-for-consumption of aggregates increased in 35 of the 44 states that were estimated. Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Ohio led with the highest amount of production-for-consumption, providing a combined total of 183 Mt (201 million st) and representing 28 percent of the U.S. total.