U.S. aggregates production up 5% in 2021

The estimated annual output of American construction aggregates produced for consumption in 2021 was 2.54 billion tonnes, up 5% compared to 2020.
Quarry Products / March 9, 2022
By Guy Woodford
U.S aggregates production is estimated at 2.54bn tonnes in 2021, up 5% on 2020. Pictured is a U.S. aggregates production site - Reynaldo Matinez ID 99754311 Dreamstime.com

Meanwhile, an estimated 647 million tonnes of construction aggregates was produced and shipped for consumption in Q4 2021, a rise of 7% on the same period of 2020.

The new headline figures are taken from the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) new report Crushed Stone and Sand and Gravel in the Fourth Quarter 2021.

The estimated production for consumption of construction aggregates in the fourth quarter of 2021 increased in eight of the nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in Q4 2020. In the fourth quarter, production for consumption increased in 35 of the 40 states for which production estimates of construction aggregates were made.

The five leading states in the fourth quarter of 2021 were, in descending order of production, Texas, Missouri, California, Florida and Ohio. Their combined total production for consumption was 200 million tonnes (31% of the U.S. total).

The estimated total annual production for consumption of construction aggregates in 2021 increased compared with that in 2020, in 38 of the 50 states for which estimates were made. The five leading states were, in descending order of total annual output for 2021, Texas, California, Missouri, Florida and Ohio. Their combined total annual output was 780 million tonnes, a 4% increase compared to 2020.

An estimated 397 million tonnes of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 8% compared with that of 2020. The estimated annual output of crushed stone produced for consumption in 2021 was 1.54 billion tonnes, up 4% on 2020.

The estimated production for crushed stone consumption in Q4 2021 increased in eight of the nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the fourth quarter of 2020. Production for consumption increased in 37 of the 45 states for which production estimates of crushed stone were made.

The estimated output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption in the fourth quarter of 2021 was 250 million tonnes, an increase of 5% compared with that of 2020. The estimated annual output of construction sand and gravel produced for consumption in 2021 was 1 billion tonnes, a year-on-year rise of 6%.

The estimated production for construction sand and gravel consumption in the fourth quarter of 2021 increased against the same period of 2020 in eight of the nine geographic divisions. Production for consumption increased in 34 of the 43 states for which construction sand and gravel production estimates were made.

Shipments of portland and blended cement increased by 4% in Q4 2021 compared with the fourth quarter of 2020. Annual consumption increased by 4% in 2021, compared with 2020.

The new USGS report is based on data obtained from the USGS monthly survey of U.S. cement producers.

The above estimates are based on information reported to the USGS quarterly sample survey of U.S. construction aggregates producers.