For the first time since Construction
Leadership Council’s Product Availability working group began
meeting at the height of the pandemic, there is good availability of the vast
majority of building materials across the UK, with increasing reports that
availability is back to pre-Covid levels.
Some issues continue around products reliant on semi-conductors, but the
general feeling is that this is slowly improving.
While there has been a slight decline in construction activity, the industry
overall is performing better than forecasted six months ago,” said the statement from John Newcomb, CEO of the Builders
Merchants Federation and Peter Caplehorn, CEO of the Construction Products
Association, co-chairs of the group.
“With demand lower than at this time last year, there is also less pressure
on prices. As a result, early indications suggest prices for many
products appear to be stabilising and in isolated cases even declining from
recent highs, though volatility persists.
“This does, however, vary by sector and sub-sector. For example, RMI work in
both the public and private sector housing to support decarbonisation and
improve energy efficiency is driving sales of insulation products
Manufacturers in this area are seeing volumes ahead of expectations
but are managing supply.
“As reported last month, brick stocks have increased due to a slowdown in
the housing market and increased production. There are approximately 8
weeks of bricks in stock and, with new plants in the UK coming on stream over
the next 6-12 months, the UK’s reliance on more expensive imports to top up
stocks will fall rapidly.”
