Belts are turning. Crushers are rumbling. And plants coast to coast are once again making big rocks into little ones.
The mood is upbeat as spring production gets underway. Some of the headwinds experienced in 2025 are giving way to tailwinds like contractor backlogs, moderating fuel prices and infrastructure funds that are flowing into lettings.
Although this month’s edition was completed just before ConExpo-Con/Agg, the sentiment heading into the March 3-7 show was excitement. As one equipment manufacturer put it, no one was skipping ConExpo-Con/Agg. Everyone was expected to be there, which should add another jolt as pits and quarries shift into peak season.
The outlook for 2026 is becoming more optimistic, bolstered by the industry’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial reports that emerged during the back half of February. Producers continue to point to pricing as a driver, and the M&A sector is still humming along as seen in Rogers Group’s recent deal involving a top 100 crushed stone producer.
Producers speak
Yes, the fundamentals are in place for a fruitful 2026. Top producers are also saying as much.
“We are optimistic about the current 2026 financial year,” says Dominik von Achten, chairman of the managing board of Heidelberg Materials. “Even though the construction sector remains volatile in some regions, we expect our core markets to continue to stabilize. We therefore expect that results will once again grow in the current year.”
Arcosa’s Antonio Carrillo was singing a similar tune early this year.
“We enter 2026 in our most resilient position to date, supported by the attractive fundamentals underlying our infrastructure-led businesses and the success of the strategic actions we have executed to transform our portfolio,” says Carrillo, CEO of Arcosa.
Perhaps Carrillo, von Achten and other aggregate executives are emboldened by their ability to navigate the more treacherous waters that 2025 presented. Last year didn’t necessarily feel as easy as the few years leading up to it. But the results, in the end, were nevertheless satisfying.
Just let von Achten paint the picture.
“Last year, we once again demonstrated that we can successfully maintain our growth trajectory even in a persistently challenging environment,” von Achten says. “Our consistent focus on strict cost management contributed significantly to this excellent result. At the same time, we benefit from our diversified geographical presence and clear focus on our core business. This enables us to accelerate our growth even in volatile times.”
Resilient. Efficient. Disciplined. Agile. Let those traits continue to propel aggregates forward.
