TOP NEWS
TACA Convention
The Texas Aggregates & Concrete Association (TACA) welcomed more than 600 attendees to its 70th Annual Meeting, June 12-14, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. The theme this year was “Preserving a Strong Foundation” – to support an enduring commitment to the environment, as well as fostering a workforce that will carry the industry far into the future.
GCAA Holds Environmental Committee Summit
On May 29, CRH/Midsouth Aggregates hosted the Georgia Construction Aggregate Association (GCAA) Environmental Committee Summit at its U.S. headquarters in Dunwoody, Ga. The group engaged in a roundtable dialogue including federal and state updates.
Premier Aggregates Adopts AI Software
INFORM, a global pioneer in AI-powered optimization software based in Aachen, Germany, will equip Premier Aggregates, a supplier of quality aggregates in Idaho, with its AI-Powered Transport Planning and Execution software. The software will be used to optimize the dispatch of Premier Aggregates’s truck fleet.
USGS STATS
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the estimated U.S. output of construction aggregates produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of 2024 was 455 million metric tons (Mt), a decrease of 3.9% compared with that of the same period of 2023, according to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Commodity Specialist Jason Willett. The five leading states were, in descending order of production-for-consumption, Texas, Florida, California, Missouri and Ohio.
MSHA WATCH
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) completed impact inspections at 15 mines in 11 states in April 2024, issuing 247 violations and two safeguards. An inspector issued safeguards due to site-specific standards at underground coal mines to address safety hazards related to transportation of miners and materials in haulage ways. Inspections took place at, among other locations, operations owned by Summit Materials, Titan Cement, Votorantim Cimentos and Carmeuse.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
The AVP Pulse Index for June – brought to you by Rock Products and Allen-Villere Partners – increased 0.1% month over month. The Index is up 3.8% year over year and 10.5% over the past 36 months.
The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, increased 2.7% in May to 179.0 (2000=100) from the revised April reading of 174.3. Over the month, commercial planning progressed 5.5% and institutional planning slowed by 3.4%.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, construction spending during April 2024 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,099.0 billion, 0.1% (±1.0%) below the revised March estimate of $2,101.5 billion. The April figure is 10.0% (±1.5%) above the April 2023 estimate of $1,907.8 billion.
ENERGY
WTI Crude Oil Inventories
6/14/2024: 457.1 million barrels, down 2.5 million barrels from week earlier; down 6.2 million barrels from year earlier.
Natural Gas Inventories
6/7/2024: 2,974 Bcf, up 74 Bcf from week earlier; up 364 Bcf from year earlier.
Retail Diesel
6/17/2024: $3.735/gal., up $0.077 from week earlier; down $0.080 from year earlier.
Electricity
3/20/2024: Average price to industrial customers 7.73 cents/kilowatt hour; down from 7.79 cents/kilowatt hour from year earlier.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
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/.