{
  "query": "UK construction material price index 2026 2027 trend structural steel",
  "raw_results": [
    {
      "url": "https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/",
      "title": "Construction Industry Trends 2026 - ASD Limited",
      "content": "ASD\n\nThe UK's Leading Metal and Steel Supplier\n\n# Construction Industry Trends 2026\n\nConstruction trends 2026\n\nThe UK construction sector is preparing for a better year ahead. After a challenging 2025, industry analysts are expecting growth to return in 2026 and 2027. Private housebuilding is showing signs of recovery, and commercial office developments continue to gain momentum. That said, rising employment costs from the Autumn Budget – higher minimum wage and National Insurance contributions, will undoubtedly add pressure to already tight margins. [...] Lightweight cellular beams, engineered timber, recycled steel, and emerging low-carbon concrete mixes are becoming more visible across projects, reflecting a broader shift toward circular and resource-efficient construction. The specification of lower upfront embodied carbon EAF steel continues to be a strategy on commercial schemes.\n\nThe drive to deliver greener outcomes is also accelerating the use of modular and prefabricated components, which help reduce waste and improve build efficiency. At the same time, retrofitting is gaining more prominence. Upgrading insulation, heating systems, and glazing in older buildings often delivers significant carbon savings while avoiding the environmental costs associated with new construction. [...] Furthermore, adaptive re-use of existing building stock, via structural alterations to the existing frame, along with vertical and horizontal extensions, is a prominent feature of the commercial office sector, and this will continue to grow in 2026.\n\n### The Circular Economy Gains Influence\n\nCircular economy principles are becoming more prominent across UK construction as the industry moves closer to its net-zero commitments. The focus is shifting away from linear, single-use material consumption towards approaches that maximise the lifespan of resources, support reuse and recycling, and minimise waste. This shift not only aligns with sustainability goals but also helps clients manage costs and improve asset value over a building’s full lifecycle.",
      "score": 0.8215175,
      "raw_content": null
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-april-2026/construction-building-materials-commentary-april-2026",
      "title": "Construction building materials: commentary April 2026 - GOV.UK",
      "content": "| Construction materials | (% change) |\n --- |\n| Gravel, sand, clays and kaolin - incl aggregate levy | 8.4 |\n| Fabricated structural steel | 8.2 |\n| Paint (non-aqueous) | 6.1 |\n| Cement | -3.1 |\n| Precast concrete: blocks, bricks, tiles and flagstones | -3.4 |\n| Concrete reinforcing bars (steel) | -7.1 |\n\nDownload data for table 2: construction materials experiencing the\ngreatest price increases and decreases in the 12 months to March 2026,\nUK\n\nThe aggregated construction material price indices hide larger price\nmovements for some specific products and materials, table 2 shows the 3\nlargest increases and the 3 largest decreases.\n\n### 3.2 Cement and clinker\n\n#### Figure 3: production of cement and clinker, GB\n\nUnits: weight of cement and clinker, millions of tonnes [...] These statistics support analysis of the construction materials market\nand business planning. They are regularly reported in the construction\npress and are used for a variety of purposes, including policy\ndevelopment, evaluation and monitoring market trends. For further\ndetails see the Uses of these statistics\nsection of this publication.\n\n## 3. Summary of results\n\n### 3.1 Material price indices\n\n#### Figure 2: construction material annual price inflation, UK\n\nSource: monthly statistics of building materials and components, table 1\n\nDownload data for figure 2: construction material annual price\ninflation,\nUK\n\n#### Table 1: construction material price indices, year-on-year and month-on-month percentage change [...] The ONS’s monthly Index of Production\nrelease publishes gross value added (GVA) data (seasonally adjusted, UK)\nfor the following 2 industries:\n\nSIC 23.1-4/7-9 industry, which includes the manufacture of bricks, tiles\nand other construction products and SIC 23.5-6 industry, which includes\nthe manufacture of concrete, cement and other products for construction\npurposes These data are not directly comparable with the data in this\nbulletin, due to differences in coverage and methodology. They are\nnevertheless useful in illustrating the latest output trends of related\nconstruction materials as measured by the ONS.\n\n### 8.4 Revisions policy\n\nThe DBT statistical error\npolicy\ncan be found on the Building Materials webpage.",
      "score": 0.7366474,
      "raw_content": null
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.steelonthenet.com/resources/market-data/market-outlook.html",
      "title": "Steel Market Forecast 2026-2027 | Global Price Outlook & Analysis",
      "content": "Returning to the price cycle analysis above, the historical average trough-to-peak interval of 4–5 years — measured from what now appears to be a cycle trough in mid-2024 — would ordinarily suggest a recovery commencing in 2026–27. However, in the current cycle, regulatory factors are likely to be a more important driver of European price recovery than the cyclical mechanism alone. The combination of CBAM (payments falling due in 2027), the tightened EU and UK safeguard regimes (both effective July 2026), and continued US Section 232 protection is progressively building a regulatory floor under Western steel prices that structural overcapacity — on its own — would not deliver. On this basis, Steelonthenet.com expects little meaningful price recovery in 2026, with a more substantive upturn [...] In the United States, Section 232 tariffs — raised to 50% in June 2025 — continue to insulate the domestic market significantly from world price levels, with US HRC prices well above Asian benchmarks. This divergence is structural for as long as the tariffs remain in place. In the UK, the current steel safeguard also expires on 30 June 2026, to be replaced by a new trade defence mechanism from 1 July 2026 with substantially lower import quotas and a 50% out-of-quota tariff, mirroring the EU approach.( The UK's own CBAM is not expected until 2027, leaving a brief window of reduced regulatory protection in H1 2026. Over time, CBAM and tightened safeguards are expected to accelerate the shift toward EAF-based and lower-carbon steelmaking, benefiting scrap-intensive producers globally. [...] 17.   Fastmarkets / Eurometal (April 2026): European HRC prices steady as mills signal July delivery increases\n18.   All Steels / IndexBox (October 2025): New tariffs and carbon mechanism forecast to increase EU and UK steel prices",
      "score": 0.657033,
      "raw_content": null
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.steelconstruction.info/images/f/fb/Costing_Steelwork-31.pdf",
      "title": "[PDF] COSTING STEELWORK #31 - SteelConstruction.info",
      "content": "materials 2015=100. Source: DBEIS C O S T I N G S T E E LW O R K M A R C H 2 0 2 5 TYPE Base index 100 (£/m2) Notes Frames Steel frame to low-rise building 154-187 Steelwork design based on 55kg/m2 Steel frame to high-rise building 259-292 Steelwork design based on 90kg/m2 Complex steel frame 292-346 Steelwork design based on 110kg/m2 Floors Composite floors, metal decking and lightweight concrete topping 88-138 Two-way spanning deck, typical 3m span with concrete topping up to 150mm Precast concrete composite floor with concrete topping 135-189 Hollowcore precast concrete planks with structural concrete topping spanning between primary steel beams Fire protection Fire protection to steel columns and beams (60 minutes resistance) 28-39 Factory applied intumescent coating Fire protection [...] MARKET UPDATE AND GUIDANCE ON EUROCODE UPDATES COSTING STEELWORK #31 COSTING STEELWORK Forecast Quarter 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 1 120.4 120.0 131.2 145.4 145.8 150.3 156.9 2 121.0 122.6 134.5 146.6 147.0 151.5 158.7 3 119.1 125.3 138.1 146.8 148.1 153.2 160.4 4 119.1 127.5 142.3 145.6 149.1 155.2 162.2 S P O N S O R E D F E AT U R E otal UK construction output is forecast to have fallen by 2.9% in 2024. New construction activity fell by 4.3% in 2024, with repair and maintenance falling by 0.9%. A slowly improving UK economy is expected to yield construction growth of 2.1% in 2025 and 4% in 2026.\nThe economy returned to modest growth in 2024 supported by higher government spending and a recovery in consumer spending. UK economic growth is forecast to be 1.7% in 2025.",
      "score": 0.47416916,
      "raw_content": null
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.ibisworld.com/united-kingdom/bed/construction-materials-price-index/44255/",
      "title": "Construction materials price index - Business Environment Profile Report | IBISWorld",
      "content": "IBISWorld Logo\nIBISWORLD Logo\n\nBusiness Environment Profiles - United Kingdom\n\n# Construction materials price index\n\nPublished: 31 October 2025\n\n## Key Metrics\n\nConstruction materials price index\n\n### Total (2026)\n\n152 Index\n\n### Annualized Growth 2021-26\n\n3.3 %\n\n## Definition of Construction materials price index\n\n## Analyze the wider world in which businesses operate\n\nWe measure the upstream and downstream ramifications on thousands\nof industries so businesses can monitor their external operating\nenvironment. Explore membership options today.\n\nPurchase options\n\n## Included in an IBISWorld Membership\n\nOur industry reports include 35+ pages of data, analysis and charts, including:\n\n## Recent Trends – Construction materials price index [...] ## Recent Trends – Construction materials price index\n\nOver the five-year period through 2024-25, the UK CMPI is forecast to increase at a compound annual rate of 6.2% - the equivalent of a +39.6-point absolute change - to reach 151.9 points. While being a marked increase in absolute terms, this is partly due to the CMPI starting from a relatively low base in 2017-18 (94.5 points); nevertheless, a subsequent sustained rise in the value of underlying construction activity consistently pushed up supply chain prices, while recent pandemic-induced supply chain disruption and resultant exponential price inflation has more recently exaggerated growth in the CMPI. [...] energy giants such as Shell, BP and Exxon have pulled out of Russian energy deals, while the many Western countries have announced a ban on importing Russian oil and other petroleum products, which has significantly disrupted the supply chain. In addition to this, higher prices oil prices as a direct result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine have been compounded by strong consumer demand across the globe as the world has attempted to recover from the pandemic and weak supply as the leading oil-producing nations throttle output. As a result, the globe has endured significant supply chain disruptions and surging energy prices (inclusive of oil). All of which is projected to compound and lead to rising CMPI. Overall, the CMPI is forecast to accelerate by 17.1% - +20.8 points in absolute terms –",
      "score": 0.4315129,
      "raw_content": null
    }
  ],
  "formatted": "Source: Construction Industry Trends 2026 - ASD Limited\nURL: https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/\nASD The UK's Leading Metal and Steel Supplier # Construction Industry Trends 2026 Construction trends 2026 The UK construction sector is preparing for a better year ahead. After a challenging 2025, industry analysts are expecting growth to return in 2026 and 2027. Private housebuilding is showing signs of recovery, and commercial office developments continue to gain momentum. That said, rising employment costs from the Autumn Budget – higher minimum wage and National Insurance contributions, will undoubtedly add pressure to already tight margins. [...] Lightweight cellular beams, engineered timber, recycled steel, and emerging low-carbon concrete mixes are becoming more visible across projects, reflecting a broader shift toward circular and resource-efficient construction. The specification of lower upfront embodied carbon EAF steel continues to be a strategy on commercial schemes. The drive to deliver greener outcomes is also accelerating the use of modular and prefabricated components, which help reduce waste and improve build efficiency. At the same time, retrofitting is gaining more prominence. Upgrading insulation, heating systems, and glazing in older buildings often delivers significant carbon savings while avoiding the environmental costs associated with new construction. [...] Furthermore, adaptive re-use of existing building stock, via structural alterations to the existing frame, along with vertical and horizontal extensions, is a prominent feature of the commercial office sector, and this will continue to grow in 2026. ### The Circular Economy Gains Influence Circular economy principles are becoming more prominent across UK construction as the industry moves closer to its net-zero commitments. The focus is shifting away from linear, single-use material consu\n\n---\n\nSource: Construction building materials: commentary April 2026 - GOV.UK\nURL: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-april-2026/construction-building-materials-commentary-april-2026\n| Construction materials | (% change) | --- | | Gravel, sand, clays and kaolin - incl aggregate levy | 8.4 | | Fabricated structural steel | 8.2 | | Paint (non-aqueous) | 6.1 | | Cement | -3.1 | | Precast concrete: blocks, bricks, tiles and flagstones | -3.4 | | Concrete reinforcing bars (steel) | -7.1 | Download data for table 2: construction materials experiencing the greatest price increases and decreases in the 12 months to March 2026, UK The aggregated construction material price indices hide larger price movements for some specific products and materials, table 2 shows the 3 largest increases and the 3 largest decreases. ### 3.2 Cement and clinker #### Figure 3: production of cement and clinker, GB Units: weight of cement and clinker, millions of tonnes [...] These statistics support analysis of the construction materials market and business planning. They are regularly reported in the construction press and are used for a variety of purposes, including policy development, evaluation and monitoring market trends. For further details see the Uses of these statistics section of this publication. ## 3. Summary of results ### 3.1 Material price indices #### Figure 2: construction material annual price inflation, UK Source: monthly statistics of building materials and components, table 1 Download data for figure 2: construction material annual price inflation, UK #### Table 1: construction material price indices, year-on-year and month-on-month percentage change [...] The ONS’s monthly Index of Production release publishes gross value added (GVA) data (seasonally adjusted, UK) for the following 2 industries: SIC 23.1-4/7-9 industry, which includes the manufacture of bricks, tiles and other construction products and SIC 23.5-6 industry, which includes the manufacture of\n\n---\n\nSource: Steel Market Forecast 2026-2027 | Global Price Outlook & Analysis\nURL: https://www.steelonthenet.com/resources/market-data/market-outlook.html\nReturning to the price cycle analysis above, the historical average trough-to-peak interval of 4–5 years — measured from what now appears to be a cycle trough in mid-2024 — would ordinarily suggest a recovery commencing in 2026–27. However, in the current cycle, regulatory factors are likely to be a more important driver of European price recovery than the cyclical mechanism alone. The combination of CBAM (payments falling due in 2027), the tightened EU and UK safeguard regimes (both effective July 2026), and continued US Section 232 protection is progressively building a regulatory floor under Western steel prices that structural overcapacity — on its own — would not deliver. On this basis, Steelonthenet.com expects little meaningful price recovery in 2026, with a more substantive upturn [...] In the United States, Section 232 tariffs — raised to 50% in June 2025 — continue to insulate the domestic market significantly from world price levels, with US HRC prices well above Asian benchmarks. This divergence is structural for as long as the tariffs remain in place. In the UK, the current steel safeguard also expires on 30 June 2026, to be replaced by a new trade defence mechanism from 1 July 2026 with substantially lower import quotas and a 50% out-of-quota tariff, mirroring the EU approach.( The UK's own CBAM is not expected until 2027, leaving a brief window of reduced regulatory protection in H1 2026. Over time, CBAM and tightened safeguards are expected to accelerate the shift toward EAF-based and lower-carbon steelmaking, benefiting scrap-intensive producers globally. [...] 17. Fastmarkets / Eurometal (April 2026): European HRC prices steady as mills signal July delivery increases 18. All Steels / IndexBox (October 2025): New tariffs and carbon mechanism forecast to\n\n---\n\nSource: [PDF] COSTING STEELWORK #31 - SteelConstruction.info\nURL: https://www.steelconstruction.info/images/f/fb/Costing_Steelwork-31.pdf\nmaterials 2015=100. Source: DBEIS C O S T I N G S T E E LW O R K M A R C H 2 0 2 5 TYPE Base index 100 (£/m2) Notes Frames Steel frame to low-rise building 154-187 Steelwork design based on 55kg/m2 Steel frame to high-rise building 259-292 Steelwork design based on 90kg/m2 Complex steel frame 292-346 Steelwork design based on 110kg/m2 Floors Composite floors, metal decking and lightweight concrete topping 88-138 Two-way spanning deck, typical 3m span with concrete topping up to 150mm Precast concrete composite floor with concrete topping 135-189 Hollowcore precast concrete planks with structural concrete topping spanning between primary steel beams Fire protection Fire protection to steel columns and beams (60 minutes resistance) 28-39 Factory applied intumescent coating Fire protection [...] MARKET UPDATE AND GUIDANCE ON EUROCODE UPDATES COSTING STEELWORK #31 COSTING STEELWORK Forecast Quarter 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 1 120.4 120.0 131.2 145.4 145.8 150.3 156.9 2 121.0 122.6 134.5 146.6 147.0 151.5 158.7 3 119.1 125.3 138.1 146.8 148.1 153.2 160.4 4 119.1 127.5 142.3 145.6 149.1 155.2 162.2 S P O N S O R E D F E AT U R E otal UK construction output is forecast to have fallen by 2.9% in 2024. New construction activity fell by 4.3% in 2024, with repair and maintenance falling by 0.9%. A slowly improving UK economy is expected to yield construction growth of 2.1% in 2025 and 4% in 2026. The economy returned to modest growth in 2024 supported by higher government spending and a recovery in consumer spending. UK economic growth is forecast to be 1.7% in 2025.\n\n---\n\nSource: Construction materials price index - Business Environment Profile Report | IBISWorld\nURL: https://www.ibisworld.com/united-kingdom/bed/construction-materials-price-index/44255/\nIBISWorld Logo IBISWORLD Logo Business Environment Profiles - United Kingdom # Construction materials price index Published: 31 October 2025 ## Key Metrics Construction materials price index ### Total (2026) 152 Index ### Annualized Growth 2021-26 3.3 % ## Definition of Construction materials price index ## Analyze the wider world in which businesses operate We measure the upstream and downstream ramifications on thousands of industries so businesses can monitor their external operating environment. Explore membership options today. Purchase options ## Included in an IBISWorld Membership Our industry reports include 35+ pages of data, analysis and charts, including: ## Recent Trends – Construction materials price index [...] ## Recent Trends – Construction materials price index Over the five-year period through 2024-25, the UK CMPI is forecast to increase at a compound annual rate of 6.2% - the equivalent of a +39.6-point absolute change - to reach 151.9 points. While being a marked increase in absolute terms, this is partly due to the CMPI starting from a relatively low base in 2017-18 (94.5 points); nevertheless, a subsequent sustained rise in the value of underlying construction activity consistently pushed up supply chain prices, while recent pandemic-induced supply chain disruption and resultant exponential price inflation has more recently exaggerated growth in the CMPI. [...] energy giants such as Shell, BP and Exxon have pulled out of Russian energy deals, while the many Western countries have announced a ban on importing Russian oil and other petroleum products, which has significantly disrupted the supply chain. In addition to this, higher prices oil prices as a direct result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine have been compounded by strong consumer demand across"
}