Source: National Precast Concrete Association, Indianapolis

NPCA member producers saw 2008 shipments drop 10 percent against the prior year, to an estimated $27 billion in total sales volume, with gross profit averaging 25.8 percent. While the business dip mirrors an overall construction market decline against the larger recession, the NPCA 2009 Benchmarking Report indicates a few areas of growth last year, notably architectural wall panels, up 38 percent from 2007, to $1.04 billion.

The 142-page report presents a detailed analysis of key precast concrete industry data, including plant sales and operations data such as average and median cubic yards per plant (23,209 yd. and 16,604 yd.), plus employee compensation and benefits information. Survey participants received free individualized company performance profiles. Sample pages can be viewed at www.precast.org/benchmarking, while copies of the report are available from the NPCA Shop.