Despite these extraordinary times, it is apparently business as usual at Aggregate Industries:
...we maintain our commitment to offer the highest level of products and services to our customers and currently, our business is operating as usual.
Indeed, Aggregate Industries' hauliers are still going about their business:
@AggregateUK Pls ask whoever is driving this vehicle today to hold on to his rubbish and not throw it out the window at traffic lights... pic.twitter.com/lYFyTUQdEr— Caroline (@lunaline29) March 30, 2020
Many have called for construction sites to close to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Some companies have already taken matters into their own hands – including rival Breedon:
In light of recent Government measures, and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, subcontractors, customers and communities, we have decided temporarily to suspend production at our UK sites, with the exception of our Hope cement plant and those of our operations which serve critical supply needs. During the course of this week we have begun gradually winding down the relevant sites, whilst ensuring that they are in a condition to be quickly and safely brought back online at the appropriate time.
It’s hasn't gone unnoticed that Aggregate Industries is putting business first:
@AggregateUK still transporting numbers of staff in the enclosed space of a boat to #Glensanda? I bet they are absolutely terrified of catching #COVID_19uk and taking it home to their families, as will the communities they live in #StayHomeSaveLives @DAJCameron @NicolaSturgeon— Will Currie (@WillCurrie_) March 25, 2020
Not work related...Can someone explain to me how the production of a kerb edge or concrete slab is contributing towards keeping this country going during this pandemic?? @AggregateUK #riskinglives— Hayley Hickman (@hayleyrhickman) March 24, 2020
This is a list of the construction work that is apparently critical; it does not include stockpiling aggregates or supplying materials for HS2.
Meanwhile, parent company LafargeHolcim has already warned that profits will be hit, but:
... declined to comment on how many staff had contracted the disease. Most of its 2,000 plants globally were still operating fully, the company added.
In order to mitigate the financial impact of the situation, we have launched the action plan “HEALTH, COST & CASH” for immediate execution in all countries.
Due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, the guidance for 2020 is no longer valid. While the implementation of the action plan “HEALTH, COST & CASH” is in full execution, the dynamic, volatile development of the Coronavirus pandemic makes it currently no longer possible to fully evaluate its impact on the performance of LafargeHolcim in 2020.
The Swiss company said it was trimming capital expenditure by at least 400 million Swiss francs ($416.5 million) compared to 2019 and reducing fixed costs by at least 300 million francs.
... cement companies in the northern hemisphere may see their busy summer months affected if the virus spreads. The effect on balance sheets may be visible with indebted companies and/or those with more exposure to affected areas disproportionately affected.
