Survey: Aggregate production largely continues through the pandemic

While the coronavirus pandemic has affected aggregate production in parts of the United States, most producers say they continue to produce construction materials as usual. Photo: P&Q Staff

The coronavirus pandemic spurs new questions by the day, and, in some cases, the answers to these questions can change rapidly.

As it became clear the coronavirus was impacting businesses within the aggregate industry, Pit & Quarry sought to find answers to determine how producers were faring. We conducted a survey of producers April 1-8 to gain a collective understanding of the pandemic’s impact on operations. About 100 producers took our survey, providing anonymous feedback through multiple-choice questions and written comments.

One area of the business P&Q asked producers about is their production. Specifically, P&Q asked this question: Has the pandemic impacted your ability to effectively produce materials?

While producers largely tell P&Q the coronavirus’ impact on business has been somewhat negative, the majority of producers say the pandemic has not affected their ability to effectively produce materials.

Seventy-two percent of producers have not slowed production, in fact, although 20 percent have ramped production down somewhat.

“Rock production in general keeps workers isolated,” one producer survey respondent writes. “Thus far, Kentucky has had little impact from the virus. Things may change as cases increase in the commonwealth.”

Another producer writes that most employees are situated in machines throughout the day, anyway. So the logic is that the risk of spreading the virus within a pit or quarry environment is low.

For additional P&Q coverage related to the coronavirus, visit our dedicated webpage.