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Construction remains busy and unpredictable

30 November 2021

Construction remains busy and unpredictable

The Construction Leadership Council’s Product Availability working group reports an improving situation that is more positive than seen in recent months, with improved availability of most products across most regions.

However, the co-chairs of the group, John Newcomb, CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation and Peter Caplehorn, CEO of the Construction Products Association, say that while the market is no longer experiencing the extremely high levels of demand seen earlier in the year, and UK manufacturers remain at full production capacity, demand continues to outstrip supply for certain products, particularly those being imported.  

Items proving most challenging to procure include bricks, blocks and roofing products, where timber battens have overtaken concrete roof tiles as the most difficult to obtain, and certain electro-technical products.

Residential repair, maintenance and improvement activity remains robust with most SME builders reporting full order books well into 2022.  

However, the CLC group reports that the construction sector has recently seen a small but noticeable slowing.  This is thought to be partly as a consequence of delayed projects and increased costs and lead times, and partly down to seasonality.  This has actually improved some stock availability, such as cement, held by manufacturers and merchants.

Reports from larger housebuilders and contractors suggest that while a variety of product shortages persist, the situation for most remains manageable.

The Brick Development Association suggests that with demand expected to remain high, lead times will be an issue for the coming year. And the CLC says that high demand over the past 18 months has made it difficult for block manufacturers to build the level of stocks required to maintain regular supply throughout the year, with pressure expected to remain in early 2022.

Delays at ports in the UK and abroad mean that timber prices and availability might remain volatile into early 2022, and in the electrotechnical sector, products with electronic components and those made from steel, such as cable trays remain in short supply, and twin and earth cable has become more problematic.  

The CLC also reports several factors creating an air of unpredictability, such as inflation and the pricing of products, rising energy costs, the number of Covid cases over the winter and the impact of full border controls that come into force at the end of the year. 

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