The Nation’s Top Producers

With 2008 statistics, producers reported a second consecutive year of decreased production results.

By Jason Christopher Willett

U.S. production of construction aggregates in 2008 was 2.48 billion metric tons (2.73 billion short tons) valued at $21.2 billion, free on board (f.o.b.) at plant. Construction aggregates production decreased 7 percent, and the associated value increased 55 percent compared with the quantity and values reported in 2000. In 2008, construction aggregates production decreased for the second consecutive time owing to a

16-percent decrease in the production of construction sand and gravel and a 13-percent decrease in the production of crushed stone. The average unit value (price of a metric ton of material f.o.b. plant) has increased every year since 2000.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) defines the construction aggregates industry as those companies that mine and process crushed stone and construction sand and gravel. The construction aggregates industry is present in all 50 states and consists of about 5,400 mining companies that manage more than 10,000 operations. In 2008, the 10 leading construction aggregates-producing states were, in descending order of tonnage, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Arizona, New York, and Indiana. These 10 states accounted for 45 percent of the national total production of construction aggregates, or 1.11 billion metric tons (1.23 billion short tons).

The 25 leading companies, in order of construction aggregates production in 2008, are listed below. These companies controlled 2,075 active operations throughout the 50 states and accounted for 43 percent of the total production and 46 percent of the total value of construction aggregates in the United States. Of the 2,075 active operations, 238 operations did not report their production or sales to the USGS, and their total production was estimated by using employment data provided by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The 100 largest construction aggregates operations produced 13 percent of the total production of construction aggregates.

1. Vulcan Materials Co.

1200 Urban Center Drive

Birmingham, AL 35242-2545

Phone: 205-298-3000

Web site: www.vulcanmaterials.com

2. Martin Marietta Aggregates

2710 Wycliff Road