|
These graphs illustrate the catastrophic fall in sales of all masonry blocks from a plateau through 2006 and 2007. The market turned down in Q1 2008 and fell rapidly until a levelling off from Q3 2009. Overall BIS MAT sales of dense concrete blocks in the UK fell by 34% from a 2007 high of 60 million m2 to 37 million m2 in the second half of 2009. The corresponding figure for lightweights was 45% – lightweights suffering more from the decline in housing than dense.
Overall CBA sales of dense concrete blocks in the UK fell by 37% from 2007 to the second half of 2009. The corresponding figure for lightweights was 42%. Sales of all concrete blocks as reported by BIS in the above periods fell by 39%, CBA members saw an overall fall of 40%.
Aircrete block sales declined even further, by 48% in 2007 to the second half of 2009, again reflecting the greater exposure to the housing sector.
In 2007, CBA members were responsible for 77% of all concrete block sales and within this nearly all lightweight sales. In the second half of 2009 their share was 76%, even after losing a member (Lignacite). Bearing the latter in mind CBA share arguably rose slightly, which is surprising as CBA members were more exposed to the more poorly performing lightweight market.
The graph showing volume of new orders, obtained by contractors by type of work 2005 to 2009, identifies the difference in performance of various sectors. Private Commercial and Housing experienced steep declines 2007 to 2009 paralleling masonry block performance. In contrast Public Works and Infrastructure which consume comparatively few blocks actually increased in this period.
 Download PDF, Click Here>>
|
