Aggregate usage falls 30% in a year

摘要

Aggregate extraction has fallen by 30 per cent in a year, according to official statistics from HM Revenue and Customs. rnThe total volume of aggregates declared to the taxman in the first quarter of 2009 was 42.4 million tonnes - the second lowest quarterly figure since the Aggregates Levy was introduced seven years ago. rnThe figure is down almost a third from the same period last year, highlighting the extent of the decline in construction work over that period. rnMineral Products Association economics director Jerry McLaughlin estimated that the aggregates market declined by up to 15 per cent in 2008 - and could contract by 20 per cent this year.