The concrete industry in the United States is currently strong. With the Trump administration promising $1 trillion toward public infrastructure, opportunities for concrete suppliers are quite good as demand is expected to increase for construction projects.
Let's examine the health of the industry, market conditions that may impact concrete suppliers, and other statistics that may help the more than 4,500 concrete companies in the U.S. as they analyze their position in the industry.
Growth
Overall, the number of people working in the industry has risen by 6.7 percent in the last year to more than 48,000. Four percent of companies reported new hires in 2017. Of those hundreds of companies that have reported growth, 50% are located in the U.S South.
These include companies such as Dura-Stress, Inc. in Leesburg, Florida - which currently employs 400, and Maschmeyer Concrete Company of Florida in Lake Park with 280 employees. The family-owned business brought more people onboard because business keeps pouring in. It leads the industry in sales growth.
29 percent of companies reporting growth are located in the The Midwest region. Central Iowa Ready Mix, located in West Des Moines, is among those that reported strong growth, and currently employs 500 new hires. 14% of growing concrete suppliers are located in the West, and 6% in the Northeast.
Sales for concrete companies and concrete suppliers are also up 2.1 percent, averaging $12.4 million per year. Of the companies that reported sales increase, 40% are located in the Midwest. Traylor Bros., Inc. in Evansville, Indiana is among the top 10 earners.
The South region was not far behind with a 36 percent share among companies reporting sales increases. In addition to Maschmeyer in Florida, Commercial Ready-Mix Products, Inc. (Winton, NC), Cowtown Redi Mix, Inc. (Fort Worth, TX), Cement Industries, Inc. (Fort Myers, FL), and Locke Solutions, Precast Division (Houston, TX) are among those listed as companies reporting increased sales in 2017.
18% of companies reporting sales increases were in the Northeast, and 4% in the West.
What's to come
In addition to the promise of infrastructure projects across the U.S. increasing the need for concrete, growth in the industry will likely be supported by housing and nonresidential construction markets.
While the housing market hasn't completely recovered, there are positive results in many parts of the country. There is a rising demand for new homes, and confidence among builders has risen.
Additionally, reconstruction will put concrete in great demand. Used in foundations, flooring, and walls, concrete will be vital as Texas, Florida, and other areas hit hard by September's hurricanes look to rebuild their communities.
Concrete is not just concrete
As companies within the industry recognize, not all concrete is created equal.
Concrete sub-industries are growing. The Precast Concrete market, for example, has seen substantial growth over the last five years. In the last year, it tops other sub-industries in sales with a 15.9 percent rise. It also leads in new hires with an 11.6 percent personnel increase.
The Precast and Prestressed market comes in second, but with only a 6.6 percent increase in sales over 2016. Spancrete, a company that specializes in Precast and Prestressed Concrete, is among those that reported strong employee growth. It currently employs 450 at its Valders, Wisconsin location, and another 450 at its Waukesha, Wisconsin site
Other sub-industries with an increase in sales include Ornamental (2 percent), Ready-Mixed (1.7 percent), and Dry Mix (1.1 percent).
Discover more on IndustryNet
IndustryNet is a one-stop resource for all of your industrial supply needs, providing information on more than 420,000 U.S. manufactures as well as suppliers of 10,000+ industrial products and services. Whether you need a manufacturer of parts or machinery, a distributor for your products, or a wholesaler of supplies for day-to-day operations, finding what you need is a simple search away on IndustryNet.
To connect with a concrete supplier, or any other type of industrial supplier, start your free search on IndustryNet. Request a quote, contact a company directly, connect on social media, and more.
Related articles
Five trends in building materials
Latest trends in ceiling design & products
