Profile: Martin Marietta Materials Inc (MLM)

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. is a producer of aggregates for the construction industry, including infrastructure, nonresidential, residential, railroad ballast, agricultural, and chemical grade stone used in environmental applications. The Company operates in four business segments: the Mideast Group, Southeast Group, and West Group, collectively the Aggregates business, and the Specialty Products segment. The Company’s aggregates business also includes asphalt products, ready mixed concrete, and road paving materials. The Company also has a Specialty Products segment that manufactures and markets magnesia-based chemical products used in industrial, agricultural, and environmental applications, and dolomitic lime sold primarily to customers in the steel industry. During the year ended December 31, 2011, its Aggregates business accounted for 87% of the Company’s total net sales, and the Company’s Specialty Products segment accounted for 13% of the Company’s total net sales. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired the assets of aggregates, asphalt, and ready mixed concrete business located in western San Antonio, Texas; it exchanged certain assets with Lafarge North America Inc. (Lafarge) and acquired a ready mixed concrete business in the Denver, Colorado area.

Aggregates Business

The Aggregates business mines, processes and sells granite, limestone, sand, gravel, and other aggregate products for use in all sectors of the public infrastructure, non-residential and residential construction industries, as well as agriculture, railroad ballast, chemical, and other uses. The Aggregates business also includes the operation of other construction materials businesses. These businesses, located primarily in the West Group, include asphalt, ready mixed concrete, and road paving operations. During 2011, the Company’s Aggregates business shipped 130 million tons of aggregates primarily to customers in 30 states, Canada, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean Islands.

The Aggregates business markets its products primarily to the construction industry, with approximately 54% of its shipments made to contractors in connection with highway and other public infrastructure projects, and the balance of its shipments made primarily to contractors in connection with nonresidential and residential construction projects. The Company’s Aggregates business covers a wide geographic area, with aggregates, asphalt products, and ready mixed concrete sold and shipped from a network of approximately 304 quarries, underground mines, distribution facilities, and plants to customers in 31states, Canada, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean Islands.

Specialty Products Business

The Company manufactures and markets, through its Specialty Products business, magnesia-based chemical products for industrial, agricultural, and environmental applications, and dolomitic lime for use primarily in the steel industry. These chemical products have varying uses, including flame retardants, wastewater treatment, pulp and paper production, and other environmental applications. During 2011, 71% of Specialty Products’ net sales were attributable to chemical products, 28% to lime, and 1% to stone. During 2011, approximately 72% of the lime produced was sold to third-party customers, while the remaining 28% was used internally as a raw material in making the business’ chemical products. Dolomitic lime products sold to external customers are used primarily by the steel industry. The principal raw materials used in the Specialty Products business are dolomitic limestone and alkali-rich brine.