Mixed performance for concrete products markets
BDS Marketing Research publish latest reports on building blocks, block paving and paving slabs
THE concrete products industry in Great Britain covers a broad umbrella of market sectors which between them produce in excess of 25 million tonnes of products annually. The industry has an estimated combined value approaching £2 billion each year and is a major contributor to the economy.
Three key sectors of the industry – building blocks, block paving and paving slabs – are reported on annually by BDS Marketing Research, the leading consultancy in the heavy buildings materials industry. The latest reports for each sub-market have recently been published providing estimates of outputs and market share by individual plant and company, at county, regional and national level.
The building blocks market saw a fall of around 4% in 2018 as house building growth slowed, the first sign of weakness in the market since 2012. In contrast, the block paving and paving slabs sectors continued to show growth against the previous year. Each of the sectors is expected to fall back at different times over the next couple of years before growth returns once the economy strengthens after Brexit and the General Election.
The block market is the most fragmented of the three, with the top five producers, led by Tarmac and Forterra with similar market shares, accounting for around 56% of the market. The leading producer in the block paving market is Marshalls, with an estimated market share of just over 50%. The company is also the leading manufacturer of concrete paving slabs, followed by Aggregate Industries. These two companies represented almost 65% of output in 2018.
Investment is ongoing, as evidenced by the opening of three new building block plants in the first three months of 2019.
These are some of the findings from the three sector reports, further details of which, including the price, can be obtained by contacting Andy Sales at BDS Marketing Research Ltd: [email protected]; or tel: (01761) 433035.
