Supply of building materials remain stable after a turbulent period, but inflation remains a major concern according to latest industry figures.
A joint statement from co-chairs of the Construction Leadership Council’s Product Availability working group said while current demand remains strong there are the first signs of a slight softening and shift in the balance of demand.
Supply challenges continue to affect bricks, aircrete blocks, roof tiles, gas boilers, plastic drainage and other plastic products dependent on polymers, and some electrical products particularly those using semi-conductors, the joint statement said.
Price inflation remained the major concern, with some suppliers are willing to hold quotes for tender prices for 24 hours.
It was noted that the boiler market has been impacted by unprecedented demand coupled with supply chain challenges for steel, cardboard, plastics and electronic components. While availability will remain constrained over the summer months, manufacturers remained hopeful that the supply and demand will normalise by the end of the year.
After a turbulent 12-18 months, timber presented a positive picture with stable prices and plenty of stock in the UK.
Looking ahead, it was noted that the war in Ukraine and resulting sanctions on Russia and Belarus are likely to constrain the supply of pallets, birch plywood and OSB (oriented strand board).
Other product areas that may be affected by the Russian invasion included ceramic tiles and sanitaryware, as Ukraine is a main source of supply for kaolin used in their manufacture, it was added.
The Product Availability Group will now meet every three weeks to respond to changing conditions arising from price inflation and the war in Ukraine.