July 02, 2026
UK Q1 concrete sales fall as construction output set to contract
Editor:
HIGHLIGHTS
Sales fall 2.9% on quarter
Construction output projected lower in 2026
Cement production drops 5.3% to 7.3 mil mt
UK ready-mixed concrete sales in the first quarter of 2026 declined 2.9% from the fourth quarter of 2025, according to data released July 2 by the Office for National Statistics. This followed a 4.4% quarter-over-quarter decline in Q4 2025.
Construction output in the UK is estimated to have grown by 0.1% in April, after a 1.5% increase in March and a 0.5% rise in February.
Despite recent gains, total construction output is projected to contract by 2.4% in 2026, before rebounding with increases of 4.3% in 2027 and 5.0% in 2028, according to industry forecasts.
The new housing sector is expected to expand by 4.4% in 2026 and 9.0% in 2027, before slowing to 5.0% growth in 2028.
Final ONS data showed cement production in 2024 fell 5.3% year over year to 7.3 million mt, while clinker production rose 0.3% to 6.4 million mt.
