This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at El consumo de áridos se desploma hasta niveles de hace 25 años

The past year registered a new descent of 17%, with what the consumption for the construction accumulates a fall of 64,4% from the start of the crisis

The consumption of arid collapses until levels of 25 years ago

Editorial Interempresas31/05/2012

31 May 2012

According to the estimates of consumption of arid for the construction, and in accordance with the annual statistical report that elaborates the National Association of Employers Manufacturers of Arid (Anefa), in 2011 this has descended again for the group of the national territory, what situates to the sector in levels of similar consumption to the registered in 1987: 173 million tonnes (-17%) of arid natural for the construction, to what it is necessary to add 0,7 million tonnes of arid recycled.

From the previous maximum to the irruption of the crisis, when the production was of 485 Mt, the consumption of arid for the construction accumulates a fall of 64,4%. Besides, it has produced a new shrinking in the consumption of arid for industrial applications, such like cements, glasses, loads, filters, chemical industry, siderurgy and metallurgy, etc., until the 33 million tonnes (-18%). Therefore, the total consumption of arid, in the year 2011, has been of some 206 million tonnes (-17,4%).

The sector of the arid is the main supplier of raw materials for the construction of infrastructures, the industry and the protection of the environingingment.

Regarding the volume of business of the sector of arid for the construction, excluded the transport, this has been of 770 million euros, by what the fall accumulated in constant terms, from 2007, is of the -71%.

This situation has supposed the destruction closely of 6.000 places of direct work and 20.000 places of indirect work, from the start of the crisis.

In addition to the brusque decrease of the demand experienced in this trienio 2008-2010, the sector of the arid and, by extension, the ones of the majority of products of construction, follow crossing by a situation of estrangulamiento of the capital circulante that is affecting to many of his companies, for being subjected to the double effort to manufacture and send the products without any type of coverage of risk and, simultaneously, have to bear the tension of tesorería that supposes to earn, in a lot of cases, to more than 240 days, with the real possibility that the payment do not arrive to produce.

Territorial differences

The fall of the consumption of arid for the construction in 2011 sample a territorial evolution very uneven, situating in the extremes of greater shrinking the Region of Murcia (-27%), the Valencian Community (-26%) and The Rioja (-24%).

Navarra, Extremadura, Cantabria, Asturias and Castile and Leon are, by this order, the Autonomous Communities with lower incidence from the start of the crisis, showing inferior shrinkings to the -50%. In the another extreme situate Madrid, the Region of Murcia, Canaries, the Valencian Community and Andalucia, with upper shrinkings to the -70%.

From 2006, when the consumption of arid by inhabitant in Spain was one of the most important of Europe, with near of 12 tonnes/inhabitant/year, this figure has suffered a considerable reduction, until 3,7, situating netamente underneath of the European average. At present, Spain occupies the fifth place of Europe in total production of arid.

The situation for this year 2012 is of a new stop in the civil work, without any contrapartida in the edificación, what does to foresee new falls in the consumption of arid, between the 15 and 20%

Perspectives for 2012

The General State budget for 2012, considered 6.898 billion euros in credits available to infrastructure, 22% lower than the figure for the year 2011. Of this amount, 4.449 billion euros correspond to the direct investment from the State. To these figures must be added the investments of the public business sector, 6938 million euros, representing a total of 11.387 million euros.

The bid in 2012, until March, continues its sharp fall, for a total of - 48.1%, retreating all administrations, especially the General and Local.

The public tender for building falls a 66.6% (452 M) and in civil engineering, a 36.7% (1,390 M). In addition, other relevant indicator is the consumption of cement (Oficemen), which fell by 31.3% compared to the same period in 2011, showing an escalation of the situation in the first quarter of 2012.

Therefore, the situation for the year 2012 is a new break in the civil works, without any counterpart in the building, what does anticipate some further falls in the consumption of aggregates to be found between 15 and 20%.