Test resource edit

UPDATE: 9 March 2022

Latest news on building material costs

An announcement from the Construction Leadership Council on 8 March 2022 has confirmed that the cost of building materials is continuing to soar. Prices are up by 10% on average, with a 20% increase on more energy intensive items.

Product shortages continue to affect bricks, blocks, roof tiles, steel lintels, cable trays and trunking, manhole covers, gas boilers and some electrical products. If demand continues to be high, shortages and longer lead times are expected to continue into the spring.

How will the war in Ukraine affect the building trade?

The conflict in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus threaten to have a far-reaching effect on global supply chains for years to come, as the nations are key providers in raw materials and energy.

The Construction Leadership Council advise that it’s too early to measure the impact on the availability of building materials. However, they warn that the building industry is likely to see pressure put on the cost and availability of commodities, including:

• Copper – Used in plumbing, electrical wiring, cladding, flashing and solar panels
• Aluminium ore – Alloys used in window and door frames, air conditioning and heating components, solar protection, exterior facades
• Oil – Fuel, plastics, engine oils and lubricants
• Bitumen – Road and path surfacing, roofing, plastics, sealing and insulating materials eg paint and damp proofing
• Neon – Semiconductors (used in microchip production)

As oil and gas prices rocket across Europe, pressures may also be felt on products that require a lot of energy to manufacture. In addition, sanctions imposed on individuals and Russian-owned companies may affect supply in the UK. A retaliatory export ban by Russia on some timber products might also affect availability for the building trade.

You can read the latest Construction Product Availability Statement on the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) website.