WASHINGTON, D.C. — Shipments of asphalt shingles, built up roofing, and modified bitumen dropped in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the same year-ago period.

That’s according to a brief summary of the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association Quarterly Product Shipment Report.

The report covers asphalt roofing product shipments in the U.S. and Canada in the first quarter of 2019.

It includes year-to-date shipment information and a comparison with the prior year’s data.

The biggest drop was in built up roofing, where shipments dropped nearly 23 percent, from about 2 million in the first quarter of 2018 to about 1.6 million during the first three months of 2019.

Concurrently, modified bitumen dropped about 10 percent and asphalt shingles were down about 6 percent. (See graphic below)

First quarter shipments reflect continuation of an overall drop in shipments that was reflected in total shipments for 2018. 

ARMA doesn’t comment on any trends that might be reflected in the numbers.

“The purpose of the shipment report is to provide interested parties insightful information on the asphalt roofing industry,” said ARMA’s Executive Vice President Reed Hitchcock.

ARMA is a trade association representing North America’s asphalt roofing manufacturing companies and their raw material suppliers. The association includes the majority of North American manufacturers of asphalt shingles and asphalt low slope roof membrane systems. Information that ARMA gathers on modern asphalt roofing materials and practices is provided to building and code officials, as well as to regulatory agencies and allied trade groups, according to the organization.

ARMA recently announced it is offering an annual subscription to its full detailed shipment report. The cost is $7,500 for one year. ARMA began producing the reports in July 2018.