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Tue March 19 2024

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Product sales complete fourth year of growth

10 Apr 17 Sales of UK construction products and materials have now risen for 16 consecutive quarters after further growth was recorded at the start of 2017.

The latest state of trade survey from the Construction Products Association shows that UK construction product manufacturers and materials suppliers registered an increase in sales and activity in the first quarter of 2017, despite a backdrop of increasing input cost pressures.

Comparing Q1 2017 with Q1 2016, a net balance of 65% of heavy side firms reported that sales had increased, while 38% of light side firms reported that sales were higher than a year earlier.

The construction products manufacturing industry has an annual turnover of £55bn. Heavy side products include steel, bricks, timber and concrete, while light side products include insulation, boilers, glass and lighting. 

In Q1 2107, 73% of heavy side manufacturers and 80% of those on the light side reported an increase in costs, with input costs for raw materials, fuel and energy exerting the strongest pressures, owing to the depreciation in sterling during 2016. Nevertheless, manufacturers envisage a continued rise in activity in the second quarter of this year. Among heavy side manufacturers, 68% on balance anticipate a rise in sales in Q2 and a balance of 47% of light side manufacturers anticipate a rise during the same period.

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CPA senior economist Rebecca Larkin said: “Construction product manufacturers have shaken off the pessimism over future performance evident at the end of last year and appear more confident that further rises in costs will not have a negative impact on demand and construction activity over the next 12 months.

“Heavy side manufacturers were most exposed to the effects of sterling’s depreciation with 93% of firms reporting a rise in raw materials costs and 69% reporting higher costs for fuel and energy in Q1. On balance, they were also the most optimistic on near-term sales expectations, implying that the wider construction supply chain is actively managing its cost pressures. 

“With Brexit-related uncertainty still providing a downside risk to decision-making, however, it is important that government provides certainty over the pipeline for large public sector and infrastructure projects that will help sustain activity.”

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