UK Construction Bounces Back

With the ONS revising its dip in construction output in 2020 to a fall of 14% and the CPA forecast for a growth this year of 13.7%, it seems that the UK industry continues to bounce back. On the downside, there is the shortage of materials and skilled labour followed with the inevitable rise in costs connected with these shortages.

It should come as no surprise that 65% of CAB members on balance have stated increases in sales of over 5% during the last year and in the second quarter of 2021, with a record 90% of members on balance expecting sales to increase further in the next quarter. This is tempered with 15% of members stating that they have experienced a loss in sales over the last year with a further 20% stating that they have experienced the same or less than 5% increase in sales over the period.

Costs have generally increased in all areas with 80% of members on net balance stating that costs have risen in the past quarter. These increases generally fall in line with the rest of the construction industry. On balance 90% of members forecast further increases with 97% of the wider construction industry bracing themselves for further price increases.

Critical costs have increased across the board with wages, energy costs and fuel costs increasing, with increased raw material costs being claimed by 90% of net balance of members as being the most influential.

Whilst 42% of members see the availability of materials as the major constraint on activity, 32% of members also cite demand as a likely future constraint. This suggests that possibly not all sectors are seeing a steady growth.

With historic capacity utilisation of 45% of members operating at over 90% capacity over the last quarter, this is a significant increase from the 30% of members operating at over 90% capacity over the last year. The wider construction industry lags slightly behind at 36% and 26% respectively.

CAB members are cautiously optimistic about further growth with just 47% of members forecasting that their capacity utilisation will continue to be over 90% in the next quarter. However, 50% of members see a capacity utilisation of over 90% for the year ahead. With a similar forecast increase in capacity utilisation in both the membership and the wider industry, this shows a stable optimism for the year ahead.

53% on net balance of members are seeking to increase their labour force in the year ahead and 13% claimed that they had increased their workforce in the last year. These figures again closely follow the wider construction industry forecasts.

42% of members have seen increases in labour costs in the last year, with 74% on balance forecasting increases in labour costs in the year ahead. Again, these figures closely follow the wider construction industry.

As a proportion of sales, 55% of members reported that none of their production is exported which matches that of the wider construction industry in the UK. Only 5% of members claimed to be exporting more than 15% of their production. The wider construction industry saw a drop of exports in the last year of 8% on net balance likely to be due to the remnants of Brexit.

As would be expected, capital investment is aimed at plant and equipment with 74% of members on net balance stating that investment had been made in the past year with a further 63% on balance stating the future investment would be made in plant and equipment.

42% of members on net balance confirmed that product improvements in the last year and the year ahead are a second priority for capital investment.

Overall, it is the wider construction industry that is being bullish about the future growth in the sector. CAB membership seem to be a little more cautious, possibly due to increasing costs and lack of materials at the present. Normally the membership is more bullish about future business, however, we could be seeing the start of significant construction boom, especially with infrastructure projects which will continue for some years to come.

The Association supports the wider industry with technical support across the aluminium fenestration supply chain and staff are on hand at the CAB offices to answer any questions. Information is regularly updated on the CAB website at www.c-a-b.org.uk and for Association Membership enquiries please contact Jessica Dean at the CAB offices by email jessica.dean@c-a-b.org.uk or telephone 01453 828851.