Aggregates production falls hard

An estimated 255 million metric tons (Mt) of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the first quarter of 2007, a decrease of 21.6% compared with that of the same period of 2006, according to the latest production figures released by USGS. The estimated U.S. output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of 2007 was 179 Mt, compared with 221 Mt in the same period of 2006. An estimated 434 Mt of total aggregates was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the first quarter of 2007, compared with 547 Mt in the same period of 2006. "During the first quarter of 2006, there was a large increase in aggregates production owning to the combination of favorable weather and strong demand that the industry did not experience again in 2007," says Jason Willett, crushed stone commodity specialist. "Severe winter weather conditions in some areas and lower aggregates demand from residential construction were the main causes of lower aggregates production during the first quarter of 2007. Until the residential construction markets recover, aggregates production will most likely continue to be lower than that of 2006." Your comment?