Sustainability Shapes UK Pipes & Fittings Market Future

The UK pipes and fittings market is projected to experience growth in the next five years, with a marginal increase of +5% in 2028. The 9^th edition of the UK pipes and fittings market report presents our forecast from 2024 to 2028 for the following products:

• Plumbing pipe systems: including hot and cold-water internal pipes and fittings, and pipes and fittings for radiator heating systems and underfloor heating.
• Rainwater, soil & waste products: including rainwater guttering, downpipes and fittings, and soil and waste pipes, traps and fittings.

Pipes and Fittings Market Overview

The UK pipes and fittings market has faced challenges caused by economic downturns in recent years.

This was mainly caused by reduced activity in the construction industry. Nonetheless, improvements in the construction industry, particularly growth expected in the residential construction output, is having a positive impact on the pipes and fittings market.

We expect this to continue in the medium term. This market is a mature market in which sustainability is becoming more important, with greater focus on water savings and recycling.

What influencing the Pipes and Fittings Market?

By being highly reliant on residential construction market activity, the market has been able to recover in 2021 thanks to growing RMI activity, and growth may be more stable in the next five years thanks to strong demand for new housing and the government’s pledge to build 1.5 million new homes.

The shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry is impacting this market, however, changes in visa rules may ease this challenge in the future.

The UK pipes and fittings market is also influenced by the need for efficient construction techniques and the development of smart plumbing systems.

Technological developments also aim to encompass environmental challenges, by maximising water usage for instance, and increasing the use of recycled materials.

Additionally, trends in the following market are anticipated to continue impacting the UK pipes and fittings market in the future:

• UK heating market: central heating, water heating, space heating, underfloor heating (UFH)
• UK bathroom market: bathrooms, washrooms, showers, wetrooms.

Product Mix

The rainwater, soil and waste sub-market remains slightly smaller than the plumbing pipe systems sub-market at Manufacturer Selling Price.

In terms of materials in the plumbing pipe systems sub-market, the material mix for fittings is more diverse than for pipes. Nonetheless, copper is positively regarded thanks to its long-lasting durability and plastic plumbing systems are advantageous due to their ease of installation; both advantages are strongly sought after in this market and influence product innovation.

Key suppliers involved in this sub-market include Lawton Tube Company, Mueller Europe, RWC UK, Polypipe, and Conex Universal.

Climate change is having a strong impact on the demand for rainwater, soil and waste products. In fact, sustainability is a growing feature in both the rainwater, soil and waste sub-market and plumbing pipe systems sub-market.

For instance, while still niche, greywater recycling systems are likely to become particularly relevant in the long term.

Rainwater products (guttering, downpipes, and fittings) come in different materials, mainly plastic, aluminium, and cast iron; choice tends to depend on availability, durability, and aesthetic. However, plastic dominates the soil and waste products sector.

A growing demand for low-noise products is influencing product choices in this sub-market, in-turn impacting product innovations. Key players in the rainwater, soil and waste sub-market include Aliaxis UK, Wavin UK, Brett Martin, and Polypipe.

Distribution of Pipes and Fittings

The distribution of pipes and fittings products in the UK is composed of four channels – trade distributors, home improvement multiples, direct supply, and other.

Trade distributors is the leading channel, which includes plumbers’ and builders’ merchants, bathroom distributor and specialist plumbing, and roofing and drainage distributors. Nonetheless, this depends on the product, and direct sales from the manufacturer to housing developers may increase in the next few years.

Additionally, online retailers are becoming increasingly attractive thanks to price and convenience.

Some major distributors in this market include Travis Perkins, Woleseley UK, UK Plumbing Supplies, B&Q, Wickes Building Supplies, and online retailers such as Amazon.

Pipes and Fittings Market Forecast

Despite fluctuations in recent years, the UK pipes and fittings market is forecast to stabilise itself in the next five years and show some stable growth up to 2028.

We currently project the market to reach £1,013 at MSP in 2028, with growth expected in both the plumbing pipe systems sub-market and the rainwater, soil and waste sub-market.

With the greater focus on sustainability, lower carbon emissions and better insulation in homes, pushed by the Future Homes and Building Standard and Standard Assessment Procedure, are likely to impact the pipes and fittings market.

Additionally, energy efficiency and water savings will be at the forefront of this market, with a greater need to abide by circularity principles.

Furthermore, as the pipes and fittings market is highly reliant on growth in the construction industry, the projected growth in the residential construction industry, based on new work output by value, should support this market in the medium term at least.