Our Industry
About the aggregates, ready mixed concrete and cement industries in Pennsylvania
About the aggregates, ready mixed concrete and cement industries in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA) is Pennsylvania's leading voice for the crushed stone, ready mixed concrete, sand and gravel, and cement industries' community. The PACA community represents not only many Pennsylvania born and bred companies, but many small businesses and multi-generational companies - all of who believe it is important to do business in an environmentally sound and financially responsible manner. These companies demonstrate this responsibility in various ways - through responsible corporate stewardship, through financial support for initiatives that benefit their local communities, and through support of PACA. Life without these industries would be impossible!
Natural aggregates are among the most abundant natural resources on Earth and a major basic raw material used by the construction, agriculture and other industries. Aggregates are considered by the United States Congress as strategic and of critical and vital importance to national security and economic viability.
The National Sand, Stone & Gravel Association (NSSGA) estimates every American will need 1.18 million pounds of stone, sand and gravel. In Pennsylvania, aggregates are essential to transportation infrastructure. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is the industry's largest customer.
In 2019, USGS has estimated that 1.53 billion tons of crushed stone, valued at more than $18.7 billion, was produced by 1,430 companies operating 3,440 quarries and 176 sales/distribution yards in 50 states. This is an increase of eight percent over 2018. Pennsylvania is second in the nation in production, behind Texas. Leading states were, in descending order of production: Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Virginia, Illinois and Kentucky. Combined production in these states accounted for more than half of the total crushed stone output in the United States. Crushed stone is the dominant resource for construction aggregate projects.
USGS estimates the national annual output of construction sand and gravel produced for consumption in 2019 was 970 million tons, an increase of 3.5 percent compared with that of 2018, and valued at $9.0 billion. In Pennsylvania, 9.6 million tons was estimated to be produced in 2018.
The ready mixed concrete industry supplies an essential product for transportation projects, buildings - both commercial and residential - and other construction needs. Concrete is the world's most utilized construction material due to its sustainability and safety.
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) estimates there are about 6,800 ready mixed concrete plants that produce the product and about 70,000 ready mixed concrete mixer trucks that deliver it to the point of placement.
NRMCA estimates production of 358.2 million cubic yards in 2018, an increase of 2.3 percent over 2017. Of that, 9.6 million cubic yards was produced in Pennsylvania. NRMCA indicates that 81 percent of architects, developers, builders and engineers have a favorable view of the concrete industry. The value of ready mixed concrete produced by this industry is estimated at $40 billion in the United States.
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) provides interested stats, graphs and mapping on the concrete and cement industries in Pennsylvania on an annual basis. View the 2019 PA Cement & Concrete Industry Fact Sheet.
USGS indicates shipments of portland and blended cement increased by an estimated 4.9% in 2019. 96 plants in 34 states and two plants in Puerto Rico produced cement. In 2019, sales of cement were valued at $12.5 billion. Texas, California, Missouri, Florida, Alabama, Michigan and Pennsylvania were, in descending order of production, the seven leading cement-producing states and accounted for 60% of U.S. production.
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) provides interested stats, graphs and mapping on the concrete and cement industries in Pennsylvania on an annual basis. View the 2019 PA Cement & Concrete Industry Fact Sheet.