Latest Figures Show Concrete Roof Tiles Supply Still Struggling as Prices Soar

CONCRETE ROOF TILES remain in short supply as prices continue rising, the latest government figures show.

In January 2022, the total number of concrete roof tiles produced in 2021 remain at a third (-32.71%) of pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019. Production in 2021 was 17,444 (1,000m² of roof covered), which compares to 2019’s total of 25,927, the Monthly Statistics of Building Materials and Components data shows.

Concrete Roof Tiles

Likewise, deliveries of concrete roof tiles in the UK remain at the low levels seen since the pandemic started, in 2021 achieving just 62.11% of 2019 deliveries – down by two-thirds – from 27,832 two years ago, to 17,289 last year.

Consistent with these figures, stocks of concrete roof tiles remain at all-time lows, showing a 64.72% drop from 2019’s figures of 18,056 to 6,370 in 2021.

The continuing low for concrete roof tile production, deliveries and stocks compares to other construction materials data cited in the BEIS January 2022 data. Figures for cement & clinker, sand and gravel, concrete and bricks all show a better recovery from pandemic lows.

Construction Materials Prices

Meanwhile, the rise of construction materials prices continues. The data shows another rise of .09% between December and January, traditionally the quietest time of the year for construction.

Across the year, from January 2021 to January 2022, prices have increased across the board by 21%.

Fabricated structural steel saw the biggest price rises of 51% in 2021, followed closely by the cost of particle board which increased by 45.4%.

Construction Imports

Meanwhile, over the whole of 2021, imports of construction materials increased by 26.7% compared to 2020, from £16,144 million to £20,451 million.

In the same period exports increased by 6.0%, from £6,916 million to £7,332 million. In 2021, the annual trade deficit grew by £3,891 million (£3.8 billion) to £13,119 million (£13.1 billion), an increase of 42.0%, the BEIS figures show.

>>Read more on concrete roof tile production in the news