UK brick deliveries fall 22.8% amid weakening housing demand

Brick deliveries in Great Britain fell 22.8 per cent year on year in July, according to government figures. This decline follows a 17.6 per cent drop in June, signaling a significant slowdown in construction material demand. Total brick production also decreased by 16.3 per cent year on year to 110.7 million units.

Industry experts suggest the slump is a proxy for weakening new housebuilding starts, driven by higher mortgage rates and subdued housing demand. The GMB union warned that an estimated 500 million unused bricks are currently stockpiled, enough to build approximately 50,000 homes. This lack of demand has put manufacturing jobs at risk, with major producers such as Wienerberger, Ibstock, and Forterra facing challenges. Wienerberger is reportedly preparing to mothball its Hartlebury plant in Worcestershire.

Other construction materials have also seen declines, including concrete block deliveries, which fell 10.8 per cent year on year, and sand and gravel sales, which dropped 9.2 per cent. Despite the drop in deliveries, brick stocks rose 16.1 per cent year on year to 541 million units by the end of July.