Boost for sector as structural material sales bounce back

Sales of structural building materials have rebounded after a shaky start to the year, indicating “signs of recovery” for the wider industry, according to researchers.

Data published by the Construction Products Association (CPA) showed a balance of 53 per cent of so-called heavy-side manufacturers did more business in the second quarter of 2025 than the first.

This was a turnaround after a majority of firms reported a dip in sales of structural materials in the first three months of the year.

Heavy-side manufacturers expected the positive trend to continue, with a balance of 54 per cent foreseeing a further rise in business in the third quarter of the year.

The latest data also showed that structural product sales were up year on year, with a balance of 40 per cent seeing an increase since the second quarter in 2024. 

An even stronger proportion of suppliers expected further growth in trade over the next 12 months.

Meanwhile, light-side manufacturers – those making fittings, fixtures and services for buildings – experienced a sixth straight period of quarter-on-quarter growth in the three months to the end of June. A balance of 29 per cent of respondents expected a seventh over the summer, with the majority anticipating further increases in sales during the next 12 months.

The CPA’s head of construction research, Rebecca Larkin, said: “The return of growth for the heavy side and an extended run of growth for the light side heralds the signs of recovery for construction demand.

“An increase in heavy-side sales typically aligns with new activity and starts on site, and gives our sector some confidence that construction output will start picking up – albeit gradually – as we move into the second half of the year, and households, businesses and investors gain confidence to give the green light to planned projects.”

Demand was expected to be the primary constraint on sales by the majority of heavy and light-side manufacturers, with labour availability the next most frequently cited.

A balance of 31 per cent of heavy-side manufacturers reported an annual increase in costs in the latest period, with an even greater proportion of light-side suppliers seeing inflation.

“The survey results highlight that challenges remain,” said Larkin.