NAICS 327320 Quarterly Industry Report
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 327320Sector: 32Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 327320 provides business owners, acquirers, and financial advisors with data-driven valuation insights for the ready-mix concrete sector, drawing on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5] and the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6]. The report aggregates transaction multiples, financial benchmarks, and market trends specific to NAICS 327320 establishments, supporting buy-sell agreements, succession planning, SBA-financed acquisitions, and litigation support engagements.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the ready-mix concrete manufacturing industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing (NAICS 327320) encompasses establishments such as batch plants and mix plants primarily engaged in manufacturing concrete delivered to purchasers in a plastic and unhardened state. Ready-mix producers blend portland cement, sand, gravel, water, and chemical admixtures to produce concrete meeting project-specific specifications for strength, workability, and durability. According to the U.S. Census Bureau[5], roughly 1,978 businesses operate across 5,972 establishments, employing over 88,400 workers in an industry characterized by local market competition and perishable product delivery within tight time windows.
Batch plant operations include computerized batching systems that proportion cement, aggregates, water, and admixtures by weight; central mix drums or dry batch loading into mixer trucks; dispatch systems routing deliveries to construction sites; and quality control testing for slump, air content, temperature, and cylinder strength specimens. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] identifies production roles including batch plant operators, mixer truck drivers who are typically the largest workforce segment, dispatchers coordinating delivery logistics, quality control technicians collecting and testing field specimens, and mechanics maintaining truck fleets and plant equipment.
Per the SBA Office of Advocacy[7], ready-mix concrete is a quintessentially local business, since the product must be delivered and placed within 60 to 90 minutes of batching before it begins to set. This delivery radius constraint creates natural market boundaries and supports large numbers of independent producers serving local construction markets. Demand follows residential, commercial, and infrastructure construction spending patterns in each geographic market.
What's Included in This Industry
- Valuation multiples benchmarked to ready-mix concrete batch plant operations
- Revenue and EBITDA trends for domestic ready-mix producers
- SBA lending data and financing terms for NAICS 327320 businesses
- Comparable transaction data from recent ready-mix company acquisitions
- Industry risk factors including cement pricing, construction cycles, and seasonal patterns
- Workforce composition and labor cost benchmarks including mixer truck driver costs
- Regional market analysis covering competitive dynamics in local ready-mix markets
- Capital expenditure benchmarks for batch plants, mixer trucks, and testing equipment
- Construction segment analysis across residential, commercial, and infrastructure demand
- Owner compensation and discretionary earnings benchmarks
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 327 |
| Industry Group | Cement and Concrete Product Manufacturing | 3273 |
| NAICS Industry | Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing | 32732 |
| National Industry | Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing | 327320 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 327310 | Cement Manufacturing | Cement manufacturers producing portland cement consumed as the primary binding ingredient in ready-mix concrete, with cement cost representing a major share of production expense |
| 327331 | Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing | Concrete block and brick manufacturers sharing cement and aggregate supply chains but producing preformed masonry units rather than delivering wet concrete to construction sites |
| 327390 | Other Concrete Product Manufacturing | Other concrete product manufacturers producing precast concrete and pipe products that compete with cast-in-place concrete delivered by ready-mix operations |
| 212321 | Construction Sand and Gravel Mining | Construction sand and gravel mining operators supplying the sand and gravel aggregate materials that comprise the bulk of ready-mix concrete volume by weight |
| 212322 | Industrial Sand Mining | Industrial sand mining operators supplying manufactured sand and specialty aggregates consumed in concrete mix designs requiring specific gradation specifications |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 11.2% | 670 |
| 2 | California | 6.1% | 366 |
| 3 | Florida | 5.7% | 342 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 4.3% | 254 |
| 5 | Illinois | 4.0% | 238 |
| 6 | Georgia | 3.7% | 221 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 3.3% | 198 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 3.1% | 187 |
| 9 | Ohio | 3.1% | 186 |
| 10 | Michigan | 3.0% | 178 |
% Of Establishments
0%
11%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
96
Total SBA Loans
$128.6M
Total Loan Volume
$1.3M
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.12%
Average Interest Rate
2,032
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Ready-mix concrete producers qualify as small businesses under the SBA size standards[8] for NAICS 327320, which set the threshold at 500 employees. The SBA 7(a) loan program[9] supports acquisitions of existing batch plant operations and working capital for cement and aggregate inventory, while the CDC/504 loan program[10] provides long-term fixed-rate financing for batch plants, mixer truck fleets, testing laboratories, and facility expansions. Lenders evaluate local market position, truck fleet condition, and customer concentration when underwriting ready-mix business loans.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Bank of the Lake | 8 | $40.0M | $5.0M |
| 1 | Community Bank & Trust-West Georgia | 8 | $40.0M | $5.0M |
| 3 | Southern Bancorp Bank | 8 | $15.9M | $2.0M |
| 4 | Security National Bank of Omaha | 24 | $13.0M | $543K |
| 5 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 16 | $8.0M | $500K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 327320?
NAICS 327320 covers batch plant operations manufacturing concrete delivered to purchasers in a wet, unhardened state. Per the U.S. Census Bureau[11], establishments may mine, quarry, or purchase sand and gravel as part of their operations. The classification covers both central-mix plants that fully mix concrete before loading, and dry-batch operations that load materials into mixer trucks for mixing during transit.
How is the ready-mix concrete industry structured?
The industry includes large vertically integrated producers owning cement plants, aggregate operations, and regional ready-mix fleets; mid-sized regional producers operating multiple batch plants within a metro area; and small single-plant operators serving local markets. Concrete's perishable nature limits delivery radius to roughly 30 miles, creating local competitive dynamics where proximity to construction activity determines market share.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 327320?
The SBA classifies a ready-mix concrete producer as a small business if it employs fewer than 500 workers, measured as the 24-month average of full-time and part-time employees. Per the SBA size standards table[8], this threshold encompasses the majority of ready-mix operations, making SBA financing widely accessible in this industry.
What NAICS codes are most closely related to 327320?
Code 327310 covers cement manufacturing as the primary material supplier. Code 327331 addresses concrete block production. Larger 327390 captures precast concrete products. Code 212321 covers sand and gravel mining for aggregate supply. Per the Census Bureau[11], the delivery of concrete in an unhardened state distinguishes ready-mix from concrete product manufacturing.
What industries interact most with ready-mix concrete producers?
Concrete contractors (238110) are the primary customer segment, placing concrete for foundations, slabs, and structures. Commercial builders, highway contractors, and residential builders drive project-level demand. Cement producers (327310) and aggregate suppliers (212321) are the primary material vendors. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], construction employment and spending levels directly predict ready-mix demand.
What specific activities fall under NAICS 327320?
Covered activities include computerized batching of cement, aggregates, water, and admixtures; central mixing in stationary drums; dry-batch loading into mixer trucks; concrete delivery via front-discharge and rear-discharge mixer trucks; dispatch and logistics management; quality control testing for slump, air content, and compressive strength; and aggregate stockpile management.
Are ready-mix concrete producers eligible for SBA loans?
Yes, producers with fewer than 500 employees qualify for SBA financing. The SBA 7(a) program[9] covers business acquisitions, mixer truck fleet purchases, and working capital, while the CDC/504 program[10] finances batch plant installations, mixer trucks, and aggregate processing equipment with favorable fixed rates.
Where are ready-mix concrete operations concentrated in the U.S.?
Batch plants distribute proportionally with construction activity. Metropolitan areas with active building and infrastructure programs support the highest concentrations. Texas, California, Florida, and the Southeast host the most plants, reflecting population growth and construction spending. According to the Census Bureau[5], the 5,972 establishments demonstrate this industry's highly localized distribution pattern.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA Office of Advocacy advocacy.sba.gov
- [8]SBA size standards sba.gov
- [9]SBA 7(a) loan program sba.gov
- [10]CDC/504 loan program sba.gov
- [11]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
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