21 May 2004

Small Decline in Aggregates Sales in First Quarter of 2004

Sales of Aggregates showed a small decline in the First Quarter of 2004, according to the latest QPA quarterly trends survey. Volumes of crushed rock fell by one per cent, compared with the same quarter of 2003, and sand and gravel sales fell by three per cent.

In terms of value added products, sales of ready-mixed concrete were flat in the first quarter, reflecting a relatively flat level of new construction activity. Sales of asphalt fell by 8% in the first quarter. This decline was partly due to a comparison with a strong first quarter in 2003, and the completion of work on the Birmingham Northern Relief Road, but it also indicates that there is a significant lack of progress in the plans to improve the quality of the local and national road networks. The level of work on national roads has scaled down and local authorities continue to have insufficient resources to adequately maintain and improve local road networks.

Unless the outcome of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review and Ten Year Transport Plan Review, both due this summer, ensure that both local and national networks are properly funded, and that the resources are actually spent, the Government will fail to honour the commitments to improve our transport system which were made when the Ten Year Plan was launched.

ENDS

Notes to editors

QUARRY PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION QUARTERLY CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL TRENDS JANUARY-MARCH 2004

The figures give sales trends by volume of material for a consistent sample of Quarry Products Association members comprising the following proportions of total industry output of construction materials.

Crushed Rock	(approx 80% industry sample)
Sand & Gravel	(approx 80% industry sample)
Asphalt	(approx 80% industry sample)
Ready-mixed concrete	(approx 90% industry sample)

 

RESULTS SURVEY PERIOD: JANUARY - MARCH 2004

% change over same period of previous year

 

2002 QTR 2 2002 QTR 3 2002 QTR 4 2002 YEAR 2003 QTR 1 2003 QTR 2 2003 QTR 3 2003 QTR 4 2003 YEAR 2004 QTR 1 Crushed Rock -6 -4 -8 -3 -9 +3 +3 -3 -2 -1 Sand & Gravel -10 -5 -8 -4 -13 +2 -2 -1 -4 -3 Asphalt +5 +4 -1 +5 +5 +4 -3 -6 NC -8 Ready mixed Concrete -2 -1 -6 -2 NC NC -2 -1 -1 NC

 

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