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CanaData’s Summer 2008 Review of the Eng...

wsueb — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:38:24 +0200

CanaData’s Summer 2008 Review of the Engineering Construction Outlook

The Dollar Forecasts $85.5 Billion for Engineering in 2008

Engineering construction can only be measured in dollar terms. For example, it makes no sense to speak of the square footage of roadway construction or electric power work, Therefore, CanaData projects(from: http://www.building-materials-china.com/news/) investment or put-in-place numbers for this category of work.

In 2007, the total dollar value of engineering construction in Canada was $80.0 billion. In 2008, it will climb to $85.5 billion. There will be further steps upward to $92.2 billion in 2009, $99.5 billion in 2010 and $109.3 billion in 2011. The 2008 rise (versus previous year) will only barely cover cost increases. In succeeding years, the constant-dollar gains will be +2.8% in 2009, +3.9% in 2010 and +5.6% in 2011.

Roads and Highways, Sewers and Watermains

There are four major sub-categories of engineering work. In the first two roads and highways (including bridges) and sewer and watermain work reduced levels of residential construction will cut into the need for this work to some degree.

However, a long history of spending neglect in these areas, plus public safety issues on the heels of headline-making bridge collapses and water contamination cases, appear to be getting some action. In particular, the federal government has opened its coffers with respect to infrastructure spending, making money available to all of the provinces under its Building Canada investment plan.

Alternative Electric Power

The other two primary areas of engineering work are energy-related. There is normal growth in the economy that will raise the need for power generation. In addition, electric power, when generated without the use of fossil fuels, can be a prime means to lower carbon emissions. For example, proposals to reduce dependence on gasoline(from: http://www.building-materials-china.com/buy-gasoline/) mainly turn on developing hybrid cars that employ rechargeable batteries. Helping the environment is also the impetus behind a range of smaller electric power projects, mainly in the area of windmill farms, to generate electricity as cleanly as possible.

Also a New Era of Mega Electric Power Projects

Canada is also about to embark on a new era of mega electric power projects. The use of renewable and carbon-free resources is the touchstone for proposed hydroelectric projects in Newfoundland, Manitoba and British Columbia. Clean-burning nuclear will be the focus of projects in Ontario and possibly Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Fossil Fuel (from: http://www.building-materials-china.com/buy-Fuel/)Construction Projects

In fossil fuels oil, natural gas and coal there are ongoing massive investments in the Tar Sands and in the waters of offshore Newfoundland. There are also large liquified natural gas (LNG) projects underway or planned in the Atlantic and Québec.

Furthermore, in recognition of growing environmental concerns and the move to taxation (or a “cap and trade” system) as a means to curb carbon emissions, there are experimental projects in such areas as carbon capture and storage in Alberta and Saskatchewan that involve major dollar spending and advances in scientific expertise.

Total Construction Dollar Spending $219 Billion in 2008

As a final note, CanaData is forecasting that the nation’s total new construction market in 2008 residential(from: http://www.building-materials-china.com/buy-residential/), non-residential buildings and engineering will be $219 billion in current dollars, versus $208 billion in 2007. The figure will climb to $227 billion in 2009, $239 billion in 2010 and $262 billion in 2011. Due to the fact that inflation in construction is currently at a cyclical peak, the constant-dollar percent changes will be -0.8% in 2008 (versus previous year), -0.5% in 2009, +1.8% in 2010 and +5.7% in 2011.

Shanghai International Construction Mate...

wsueb — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:30:44 +0200

Shanghai International Construction Material & Indoor Decoration Exhibition (CMI Start Date     19-AUG-08     End Date     22-AUG-08

Country
China

City / State
Shanghai，Shanghai

Venue
Shanghai New International Expo Centre

Event Profile:
Shanghai International Construction Material （from: http://www.building-materials-china.com/）& Indoor Decoration Exhibition (CMID) features construction materials for commercial buildings, cultural and public facilities as well as homes and office buildings. The exhibits also include related equipment, building techniques, tools and software.

Visitor's Profile:
Building / Design Office (Architect), Contractor, Housing maker, Real estate, Developer, Trading company, Wholesaler, Material, Fixture and Furniture suppliers, National / Local government, Distributor (Retailer, Service Industry), Outsourcer (Building owner), Tent and sheet (from: )industry, Home center industry() and more.

Exhibitor's Profile:
Profile for exhibit includes Interior / Exterior decorative materials, Flooring materials, Roofing materials, Doors and opening parts, Fire prevention, Noise reduction, Water proofing, Building stone, Natural stone, Diamond tools, Outdoor facilities, Carpet, Curtains, Wall papers, Furniture, Lighting / Signs, Shelters, Outdoor furniture(from: http://www.building-materials-china.com/buy-furniture/), Public art, Greenery systems, Air conditioning / Ventilation, Solar, Kitchen, Plumbing, Bath, Elevator / Lift, Lighting, Parking facility.

Organizer:
World Expo (Group) Shanghai International Modern Exhibition Co., Limited

Welcome the building-materials-china.com/to buy the best office products & supplies. It makes your business easier

ACT Govt promotes green construction met...

wsueb — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:23:13 +0200

ACT Govt promotes green construction methods

The ACT Government has launched three publications designed to help Canberrans build and renovate their homes with an eye to the environment.

The brochures (FROM: http://www.building-materials-china.com/buy-brochures/)give advice on solar technology, insulation and building materials that are environmentally sustainable.

Planning Minister Andrew Barr says there is also a practical check list of things to look for when buying a home.

"So things like the aspect of the house, (FROM: http://www.building-materials-china.com/manufacturer-house/) if it faces north for example," he said.

"The sorts of insulation that will work, the better heating and cooling options that are available for houses, lighting and water supply issues, and so there is quite detailed information in each of the guides to assist consumers.

"Depending on whether you are looking to build a new home or renovate one there are lists of very practical things you can do to improve the environmental efficiency of your house and then also save yourself a lot of money on heating and cooling and other energy costs."

Construction slump points to economic do...

wsueb — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:23:04 +0200

Construction slump points to economic downturn

The Australian Industry Group (AiG) - Housing Industry Association (HIA) Performance of Construction Index (PCI) reveals that building activity fell sharply in May, after also falling heavily in April.

The index now stands at a paltry 36.9 - well below the benchmark number of 50 that separates an expanding industry （from: http://www.building-materials-china.com/） from a contracting one.

This is the lowest result and the sharpest monthly fall in the index's two and a half year history.

The previous sharpest fall was the month before.

Time warp

These figures stand in stark contrast to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data released on Wednesday.

The official figures showed stronger than expected economic growth, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanding by 0.6 per cent, compared to a Reuters poll of economists on average forecasting 0.3 per cent growth.

However, the ABS figures were quarterly figures from the three months to March, whereas more recent data continues to show weakness in most major sectors of the economy, except those related to mining and energy.

The AiG's associate director of economics (from: http://www.building-materials-china.com/buy-economics/) and research, Tony Pensabene, said: "Contrary to recent reports of the construction industry holding up, this leading indicator of the industry signals that higher interest rates, tighter liquidity, and lower confidence levels are having a broad based impact on activity.

"The results, which are up to three months ahead of official data, show that weakness in the industry has intensified, with reductions in activity extending beyond house building and apartments to commercial and engineering construction."

This conclusion is supported by recent official profit figures which showed an 18.1 per cent fall in seasonally adjusted construction profits for the quarter year to March.

Monthly ABS building approvals statistics have also showed a decisive shift lower, dropping 1.3 per cent in April in trend terms.

This was despite a 7.8 per cent rise in the seasonally adjusted figure for April, which was mainly attributable to large surge in the volatile apartment sector, where a few large developments can skew the figures in any given month.

Retail sales have also declined in the months since the GDP data was collected, with a modest rise in March offset by an equal fall in April, leaving the trend growth in retail sales flat-lining at 0.0 per cent.

The retail (FROM: http://www.building-materials-china.com/buy-retail/ )figures are widely used as a more current indicator of the economy, because retail spending is often the first area where consumers will cut back when they feel the hip-pocket pinch.

The underlying question is which data to believe - the time-lagged, but comprehensive, official GDP figures, or more current private and official monthly indices operating on smaller samples (the PCI surveys 120 companies).

Big falls

Probably the greatest factor lending weight to the dire findings of some monthly surveys, such as the PCI, is the sheer scale of the declines.

Even allowing for possible deficiencies in the data, it is hard to imagine the index being so far off the mark as to cast doubt on the conclusion that construction is in the midst of a steep decline that began around the start of the year.

The other particularly worrying findings of the index were that new orders had fallen sharply, and that construction

(FROM: http://www.building-materials-china.com/buy-construction/ )employment had fallen for the second month in a row.

The new orders sub-index is at 36.1, which is the lowest result for incoming work in the PCI's history, causing concern for builders given the considerable time lags between orders and completion in construction.

"Of concern, new orders for the industry as a whole are now at their lowest level in almost three years, which means that the current weakness in activity is likely to persist during the months ahead," Mr Pensabene said.

The fall in employment also seems to indicate construction companies' belief that the decline is not a short-term aberration as they reduce costs by cutting staff.

The report's authors have attributed the falls in activity to higher interest rates, food bills and fuel (http://www.building-materials-china.com/buy-_fuel%2520/)costs impacting on consumer demand, as well as the rising cost to industry of fuel and building materials, such as steel.

The HIA's chief economist Harley Dale said that these pressures are likely to become more apparent in the next set of ABS figures for the June quarter.

"A weak March quarter for residential construction indicators will be compounded by an even softer June quarter," he said.

The Reserve Bank and expectant borrowers will have to wait until September 3 for the next set of detailed official GDP figures to either confirm or refute the recent evidence of a slow down.