TOP NEWS
Superior Industries Hires Kristen Randall
Superior Industries Inc. recently added another industry veteran to its lineup of passionate, high-service employees. After 17 years at Haver & Boecker Niagara, Kristen Randall comes to Superior as the company’s first official training coordinator. “Many of us at Superior have developed strong relationships with Kristen due to her active involvement in our industries,” said Mary Erholtz, the manufacturer’s vice president of marketing. “All who know her here whole-heartedly agree that we hit the jackpot!”
Chaney Enterprises Forms Chaney Terminals & Transit
Chaney Enterprises has formed Chaney Terminals & Transit (CT&T). The company stated that this announcement is consistent with Chaney’s strategic growth initiative of creating a terminal network to support the material businesses within its service market.
Vulcan Announces Senior Leadership Changes
Vulcan Materials Co. announced that Thompson S. (Tom) Baker II, previously Vulcan’s chief operating officer, has been appointed to the position of president. Ronnie A. Pruitt, previously senior vice president of Vulcan’s Southwest and Western divisions, has been promoted to the position of chief operating officer.
USGS STATS
An estimated 662 million metric tons (Mt) of total construction aggregates was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the second quarter of 2023, a slight decrease compared with that in the second quarter of 2022. Production for consumption in the first six months of 2023 decreased slightly compared with that in the same period of 2022, according to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Commodity Specialist Jason Willett.
WOMEN IN AGGREGATES
Women in Aggregates is a new group dedicated to supporting women working in the aggregates industry. The Mission Statement of the group is: “To create a supportive space for women that fosters leadership growth, networking opportunities and advocacy of the aggregate industry.” Membership in Women in Aggregates is open to any woman working in, or working in support of, the aggregates industry, including producers, manufacturers and distributors; and marketing, advertising or public relations professionals. Interested parties can go to www.womeninaggregates.com to join the mailing list and to stay apprised of future developments, meetings, events and other communications from the group. There is also a LinkedIn discussion page, at www.linkedin.com/groups/12717856/.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
The AVP Pulse Index for September – brought to you by Rock Products and Allen-Villere Partners – decreased 1.1% month-over-month, the Index is up 7.1% year-over-year.
Total construction starts rose 6% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.3 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Highway and bridge starts jumped 19%. Residential and nonbuilding starts fell 1% and 14%, respectively.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, construction spending during July 2023 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,972.6 billion, 0.7% (±0.5%) above the revised June estimate of $1,958.9 billion.
MSHA WATCH
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) completed impact inspections at 15 mines in 12 states in July 2023, issuing 288 violations and four safeguard notices. MSHA began impact inspections after an explosion killed 29 miners at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch Mine in 2010. The agency inspected operations by Buzzi Unicem, Taiheiyo Cement Corp., CK Meadows and Northern Filter Media Plant & Dredge, among others.
ENERGY
WTI CRUDE OIL FUTURES
9/19/2023: $91.20/barrel, up $2.36 from week earlier; up $5.47 from year earlier.
NATURAL GAS
9/19/2023: $2.848/MMBtu, up $0.105 from week earlier; down $4.904 from year earlier.
RETAIL DIESEL
9/18/2023: $4.633 /gal., up $ 0.093 from week earlier; down $0.331 from year earlier.
ELECTRICITY
7/20/2023: Average price to industrial customers 8.21 cents/kilowatt hour; down from 8.96 cents/kilowatt hour from year earlier.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration