INTRODUCTION and OVERVIEW  

The 2008-10 period has undoubtedly been very difficult for the bricks and blocks sector, though 2010 has seen  some recovery in key sectors, with housebuilding starts improving. Market prospects for the sector are very variable with housebuilding activity increasing and a switch back from apartment building to traditional housing offering some prospects for recovery in the medium term.

The report analyses current trends, key influencing factors and future prospects for the sector, and also reviews the housebuilders in terms of structure, volumes and shares of the major developers. Forecasts in the short term and up to 2015 are also reviewed.

Areas of particular interest include:-

• Recent market trends and impact of changing housebuilding market, sustainability issues.

• Precast concrete – current trends.

• Housebuilding review – 2008-10 volumes, impact of MMC, housebuilding mix by build method.

• Recovery in traditional housing share as growth in apartments/flats market ‘runs out of steam’.

• Industry restructuring.

• Short and medium term prospects up to 2015.

Companies  include:

Albion Stone plc, All About Bricks, Amber Precast, Block Stone Ltd, Bovingdon Brickworks Ltd, Bradstone Structural Solutions, Brick Market Ltd, Brickability, Broadmead Renaissance Cast Stone, Bulmer Brick and Tile, Caradale Brick, Carlton Brick Manufacturers, Cemex UK, Cotswold Natural Stone, Forticrete Ltd, H+H Celcon Ltd, Haddonstone Ltd, Hanson UK, Ibstock Brick, James & Taylor Ltd, Lignicite, Masterblock, Michelmersh Brick Holdings Plc, Northcot Brick Ltd, PD Edenhall, Plasmor Ltd, Plean Precast, Quinn Building Products, Raeburn Brick, Southern Brick, Stocks Bros, Tarmac Building Products, Taylor Maxwell Group, The Ketley Brick Company Ltd, The York Handmade Brick Company Ltd, Thomas Armstrong (Concrete Blocks) Ltd, Trinity Bricks Ltd, Wienerberger Ltd.

Key areas covered in the report include :

BRICKS

• Total market size by sales value, by units delivered, by production output and by area installed 2004 - 2010, analysis of key market factors: impact of downturns in economy & housing markets, changes in housing ‘mix’, impact of MMC, trade balance, new product development, sustainable development including use of recycled content, price trends 2004 – 2010 etc.

• Review of product mix: facing, engineering, common bricks: market mix 2008, market size & trends by volume for each type 2004 – 2010, assessment of factors specific to each product type, end-user market mix for facing bricks (new build/RMI housing, non-housing new build), material mix (clay, concrete, calcium silicate),

• Supply structure - major suppliers, recent further market consolidation, market share estimates, analysis of international trade 2004 – 2010.

• Forecasts 2011–2015 & assessment of key market factors.

PRECAST CONCRETE BLOCKS 

• Market size and trends by volume – production, stockholdings & deliveries  and by value 2004 – 2010; analysis of key market factors; price trends, regional & seasonal trends, sustainability issues including use of recycled content, trade balance,

• Review of product mix -lightweight, dense and aerated blocks: sales of each by volume 2004 –2010, key market factors; application by types of block e.g. inner leaves, flooring etc, trends in  international trade 2004 –2010.

• Supply structure - major suppliers, market shares for aircrete blocks, market shares for aggregate concrete blocks, market positioning, changing structures etc

• Forecasts for total market 2010–2015 and identification of key market factors.

• Market size by value and by volume (kg) and trends 2004 - 2010, analysis of  key market factors e.g. price changes, end use sector trends. Market for cast stone blocks by value 2010.

• Supply structure - key suppliers of natural stone walling products and cast stone blocks, trends in international trade.

• Forecasts for both natural and cast stone blocks 2011–2015 by value and key market drivers.

DISTRIBUTION 

• Bricks  - market mix by distributor types - builders merchants, brick factors, direct sales etc. Identification of major distributors and key niche players.

• Precast concrete blocks - market mix by distributor types - builders merchants, brick factors, direct sales etc. Identification of major distributors and key niche players.

• Natural stone and cast stone  -  market mix by distributor types - builders merchants, brick factors, direct sales etc. Identification of major distributors and key niche players.

• Review of recent construction & housebuilding trends 2000–2010 including new orders and key issues e.g. sustainable development, modern methods of construction (MMC). Housebuilding mix by Brick & Block/MMC by Private/Public/Self Build.

• Focus on housebuilding market – analysis of key trends including size & types of dwelling, completions by sector 2006 – 2010, private vs public sector output, self-build sector.

• Overview of housebuilding industry structure, market shares of the leading groups, assessment of the industry – impact of the ‘credit crunch’.

• Future prospects for new housing - medium/longer term up to 2015.

Precast Concrete Building Products Market