While the US has extensive aggregate resources overall, local supply constraints — permitting restrictions, environmental regulations on dredging, and depletion of urban-area deposits — create regional shortages. Coastal cities in the Northeast and Southeast sometimes find it more economical to import sand and gravel by bulk vessel from nearby sources than to truck material from distant inland quarries.

Imported aggregates must meet the same ASTM or AASHTO specifications required by the purchasing project or jurisdiction — there is no separate federal import quality standard. Buyers typically require gradation analysis, cleanliness tests, and sometimes petrographic examination. Specification compliance is a contractual matter between buyer and supplier, verified through third-party testing before or upon delivery.