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 and a major basic raw material used by construction, agriculture and other industries.  Aggregates are considered by Congress as strategic and of critical 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. And the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) indicates that 81 percent of architects, developers, builders and engineers have a favorable view of the concrete industry.  In Pennsylvania, aggregates are essential to transportation infrastructure.  The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is the industry's largest customer.

In 2015, USGS has estimated that 1.46 billion tons of crushed stone, valued at more than $13.8 billion, was produced by 1,430 companies operating 3,700 quarries, 82 underground mines, and 187 sales/distribution yards in 50 States. This is an increase of seven percent over 2014. Production for consumption of crushed stone increased in 35 of 46 States. Pennsylvania is second in the nation in production, behind Texas.

NRMCA estimates there are about 5,500 ready mixed concrete plants that produce the product and about 55,000 ready mixed concrete mixer trucks that deliver it to the point of placement. NRMCA estimates production of 336.2 million cubic yards in 2015, an increase of four percent over 2014. Of that, 9.9 million cubic yards was produced in Pennsylvania.

USGS estimates the national annual output of construction sand and gravel produced for consumption in 2015 was 945 million tons, an increase of five percent compared with that of 2014. In Pennsylvania, 10.9 million tons was estimated to be produced in 2015 with a value of $106 million.

USGS indicates shipments of portland and blended cement increased by an estimated 4.1% in the fourth quarter of 2015, and annual consumption increased by an estimated 3.5% in 2015, compared with that of the same period in 2014.