Construction Materials Industry Composite Index declined in August

The August 2018 results of the Construction Materials Industry Composite Index, which is regularly published every month by the Turkish Construction Material Industrialists' Association (Turkey IMSAD), have been announced. Accordingly, the Construction Materials Industry Composite Index was realized as 90.07 points in August. There were decreases in the sub-indices that make up the Composite Index. While activities were affected by the decrease in the number of working days in August, confidence and expectation indices also decreased. In the index, it was stated that the decline in confidence and expectations for the coming months increased the concern that there might be a shrinkage in the construction materials industry.

Activities in the construction materials industry decreased in August compared to the previous month. The Activity Index fell by 5.8 points in August compared to the previous month. There were setbacks in all activities. Only foreign sales prices continued to increase gradually. In August, when domestic sales declined, exports showed a limited decline.

There was also a decline in production. Turnovers decreased especially in parallel with the decrease in domestic sales. Activities decreased in August due to the decrease in the number of working days, the increase in exchange rates and TL interest rates, and uncertainties.

Confidence Index also declined

Confidence Index declined in August. The decline in activities in August also affected the Confidence Index. Confidence level decreased by 3.6 points compared to the previous month. Confidence level in August remained below the confidence level in August last year with a margin of 13.3 points. There was a loss of confidence in domestic markets in August as well. Confidence in export markets, on the other hand, declined to a limited extent.

Expectations, which started to deteriorate in July, also decreased in August. The decline in operations and the loss of confidence negatively affected expectations. Expectations fell to one of the lowest levels in the last four years.