NEW research has revealed that demand for key construction materials needed to build new homes weakened further during the first half of 2026.
The latest sales data from the Mineral Products Association (MPA) – based on actual volumes from members – shows that sales of ready-mixed concrete, aggregates and mortar are well below last year’s levels.
The figures show a consistent deterioration across all essential construction materials used in housebuilding. Ready-mixed concrete sales volumes fell by 9.3% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, while sand and gravel volumes were down 8.3%. Mortar sales declined by 5.1%, with second-quarter volumes reaching their lowest level for two years.
Infrastructure-linked demand has proved comparatively more resilient. Asphalt sales volumes increased by 3.2% in the first half of 2026, while crushed rock sales have remained broadly stable. The MPA said HS2 and Sizewell C remain important sources of demand, alongside offshore wind developments, grid connections work and the start of some water schemes, particularly in Scotland and the east of England.
In an open letter to the new chancellor, John Healey MP, the MPA’s chief executive Paul Adeleke writes, “Given the scale of this continuing decline, industrial capacity is now being lost. Plants are being mothballed, drivers are being taken off the road as trucks sit idle and skilled people are being made redundant. There is currently zero confidence to invest in people, sites or equipment for the future. This has to change.
“Without MPA members, nothing in your manifesto gets built, and nothing in the NISTA pipeline gets delivered. That’s why this long-term decline is so concerning – aspirations of building enough houses, schools and hospitals, or modernising infrastructure in the future will become even harder to realise. As you look towards your first budget, it is essential that our industry can have the confidence that capital budgets will be protected and that the work they have planned as businesses will actually happen, especially after recent road project cancellations.”
Aurelie Delannoy, director of economic affairs at the MPA, added, “The latest figures show that the housing downturn has deepened, with sales of key materials needed to build homes falling below last year’s levels. Activity is expected to remain subdued for the remainder of the year, as energy-related cost pressures exacerbate an already difficult situation. For our industry, the first half of the year has been bad enough to effectively guarantee that 2026 will be a fifth consecutive year of declining demand.
“While some infrastructure projects continue to support demand, they cannot compensate for the widespread weakness in housebuilding and commercial construction. A handful of major projects can help to sustain activity for the businesses directly involved, but they do not replace the broad-based demand that comes from a healthy housing market.”
MPA stated that restoring business confidence will require both stronger housing demand and a more consistent pipeline of infrastructure projects to encourage long-term private investment throughout the supply chain.
Lex Russell, MD of CEMEX UK Materials, commenting as MPA chair, said, “The latest figures paint a deeply concerning picture for our industry. Sustained low demand is placing jobs, investment and long-term manufacturing capability at risk. The solution is clear: we need policies that unlock housing delivery, accelerate infrastructure projects and create the conditions for growth. Our sector stands ready to deliver.”
