TOP NEWS
Patuxent and Chaney
Patuxent Companies and Chaney Enterprises announced a new partnership on the western portion of the Eastern Shore of Maryland as Pax-Shore Aggregates. With locations operated under the sites known as Bridgetown and Faulkner, the new partnership looks forward to supplying quality aggregates to the market.
Rogers Group
Rogers Group Inc. (RGI), the largest privately held construction aggregates company in the United States, has expanded its presence in eastern Kentucky and the Upper Cumberland area of Tennessee with the acquisition of Albany Quarry, Albany Asphalt and Jamestown Stone.
AGG1
The AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo and World of Asphalt Show & Conference hosted its first-ever St. Louis show with resounding success. From March 25-27, more than 11,500 industry professionals gathered at the America’s Center Convention Complex to explore the latest innovations, network with peers and enjoy the Gateway City.
USGS STATS
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), an estimated 365 Mt of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the fourth quarter of 2024 a decrease of 4% compared with that in the same period of 2023. The estimated annual output of crushed stone produced for consumption in 2024 was 1.48 Gt, a 5% decrease from 1.55 Gt in 2023, according to Jason Christopher Willett, commodity specialist, National Minerals Information Center.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
The AVP Pulse Index this month rose 0.8% month-over-month, while increasing 2.6% year-over-year; and 11.01% over the past 36 months. The proprietary AVP Pulse Index – a joint effort between mergers and acquisition advisors Allen-Villere Partners and Rock Products – illustrates the health of the industry in one single trend line, using relevant data that is updated monthly or quarterly.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, construction spending during February 2025 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,195.8 billion, 0.7% (±0.8%) above the revised January estimate of $2,179.9 billion. The February figure is 2.9% (±1.3%) above the February 2024 estimate of $2,133.8 billion.
Total construction starts were up 0.5% in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.1 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts grew 2%, residential starts decreased 1%, while nonbuilding starts were unchanged. Highway and bridge starts increased 8%.
MSHA WATCH
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported that on March 28 at a sand and gravel operation in Washington, Kan., a miner was fatally injured at a surface mine when sand from the highwall engulfed the front-end loader he was operating. The miner was digging sand from the toe of the highwall. This is the 11th fatality reported in 2025, and the fifth classified as “Powered Haulage.”
ENERGY
Brent Spot Prices
4/4/2025: $68.36/barrel, down $6.33/barrel from week earlier; down $24.45/barrel from year earlier.
Natural Gas Spot Prices
4/7/2025: $3.97/million Btu, down $0.143/million Btu from week earlier; up $2.242/million Btu from year earlier.
Retail Diesel
4/14/2025: $3.579/gal.; down $0.060 from week earlier; down $0.436/gal. from year earlier.
Electricity
1/20/2025: Average price to industrial customers 8.32 cents/kilowatt hour; up from 8.10 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/.