Tracking construction, Part 2: Building out the indicators

With U.S. aluminum extrusion consumption expected to approach 2 million metric tons this year, according to CRU data, it’s important to examine trends in the construction industry – particularly non-residential construction, given its significant role in aluminum extrusion demand for windows, curtain wall systems, and cladding applications.

We’re revisiting the construction backlog data analyzed earlier and building on it here to synthesize insights from multiple non-governmental datasets, providing a clearer picture of construction activity in the absence of updated federal statistics.

Nicholas Bell

Nicholas brings over half a decade of experience covering metals markets, pricing trends, and supply chain dynamics. Prior to joining AMU, he reported on aluminum, high-temperature scrap, and ferro-alloy markets at Argus Media, with additional coverage of minor metals and rare earths. His work has built deep expertise in North American metals pricing and trade flows. A native of Houston, Nicholas holds a bachelor’s degree in Media Production and an MBA with a concentration in Finance, both from the University of Houston.