Brick deliveries rose by almost a quarter in February compared with the same month last year, new official data shows.
The latest monthly Building Materials and Components report from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), published yesterday (9 April), showed brick deliveries increased by 22.6 per cent on a year-on-year basis in February.
Deliveries of concrete blocks rose by 2.6 per cent over the same period, the DBT added.
Last month, it reported a 1 per cent increase in construction material imports during 2024, while exports dipped by 0.4 per cent.
However, the DBT has since paused the publication of construction material price data for the “foreseeable future” after the Office for National Statistics halted the publication of its producer price indices.
The latest data reflects volatile demand patterns in the building materials sector, according to an industry insider.
Paul Beaman, group commercial director at builders merchants Travis Perkins, told Construction News the latest report “will reinforce the pressures and priorities already facing the construction supply chain”.
Beaman added: “From price volatility to shifting demand across core products, the data will likely highlight the continued need for adaptability and forward planning across the industry.
“Manufacturers, merchants, and trades alike will be looking at the figures not just as a reflection of past performance, but as a signal of what’s ahead, informing procurement strategies, investment decisions, and project timelines.
“As the sector continues to navigate fluctuating market conditions, timely insights remain critical in supporting resilience, securing stock, and ensuring projects stay on track.”
The previous DBT report, released in early March, said that imports of bricks reached 316 million in 2024, a decrease of 4 per cent compared with 2023.
Export of construction materials decreased by £38m, or 0.4 per cent, in 2024 compared with the year before.
Last month, the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) predicted construction costs would rise by 17 per cent over the next five years.
The BCIS also found that tender prices could increase by 15 per cent over the same period and new work output will grow by 19 per cent.
Dr David Crosthwaite, chief economist at the BCIS, also warned that 2025 will be another “difficult” year for the construction industry.
“Sentiment in construction has changed significantly since the start of the year and, with economic growth stagnating and inflation starting to pick up again, stagflation is becoming a real possibility this year,” he said.
“As a result, we’re forecasting that 2025 will likely be another difficult year for construction with only minimal output growth evident before growth accelerates later in the forecast period.”