Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/917007
AGGREGATES INDUSTRY OUTLOOK The December Aggregates Industry Index surged to an overall score of 133.44, a 9.87-percent increase from November. Gains for the month nearly offset de- creases reported over the previous three months. Good weather at the end of the year helped some operators extend their season. While the commercial market continues to perform well, infrastructure investments vary from state to state. Operators are increasingly calling on the federal government to take action on a long-term program. While the commercial market seems stable, the lack of action on the Highway Trust Fund and state funding is concerning. — Bill Schmitz, Vice President, Quality Control and Sales, Gernatt Asphalt Products, Inc. For New England-area aggregate businesses, the greatest impact on sales during the last quarter of any year is the weather. This year's warm and dry conditions through the fall and into December provided optimal conditions to extend aggregate and asphalt production for a longer period that usual, thus increasing sales. Now, we are hoping for snow (pennies from heaven) for the fi rst quarter of 2018! — Karen Hubacz-Kiley, Chief Operating Offi cer, Bond Construction Corp. May we all count our blessings and spend time with our loved ones as we refl ect back on the year and plan for next year. — Daryl Zeiner, Sales Manager, The H&K Group Working with frac sand customers in Texas and the Midwest, all are very positive and selling sand before they get to them. From my small seat…we are renting, selling, and recommending machines and machine fl eets to this industry segment more than we have in the past fi ve years. — Jason Hurdis, Senior Market Professional, Caterpillar California kicked off the holiday season with a gas tax increase due to the Road Repair and Accountability Act passed earlier in 2017. The Sacramento area is expect- ed to benefi t from signifi cant repair and resurfacing projects, primarily on US-50 and I-5 in 2018. — Deric Harrington, Production Superintendent, Specialty Granules, LLC Editor's note: To join our panel, email Editor-in-Chief Therese Dunphy at tdunphy@randallreilly.com. 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 Aggregates Industry Outlook Dec. 2016 Aug. 2017 Sept. 2017 Oct. 2017 Nov. 2017 Dec. 2017 Jan. 2017 Feb. 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 140.38 129.36 135.06 133.61 134.60 128.38 121.69 133.44 132.37 139.94 122.43 139.35 124.24 * thousand metric tons Source: U.S. Geological Survey QUARTERLY CRUSHED STONE & SAND AND GRAVEL REPORT Region/Division Quantity Crushed Stone 1st qtr. 2017 Percent change vs. 3rd qtr. 2016 Quantity sand and gravel 1st qtr. 2017* Percent change vs. 3rd qtr. 2016 New England 15,100 4.4 7,560 -12.5 Middle Atlantic 44,300 -3.9 13,700 -15.9 East North Central 67,700 -5.1 37,100 -4.0 West North Central 38,400 -2.6 50,200 3.2 South Atlantic 82,100 0.7 17,800 -0.4 East South Central 38,300 0.0 5,900 2.4 West South Central 58,400 -4.0 26,800 -11.1 Mountain 20,700 7.9 56,400 2.9 Pacifi c 23,600 10.8 45,700 9.4 TOTAL 387,000 -0.9 269,000 -0.1 Northeast: Midwest: South: West: