In the UK, construction product manufacturers' sales rose in the first quarter, according to latest State of Trade Survey published by the UK-based Construction Products Association (CPA). However, manufacturers highlighted key factors that threaten growth throughout 2012 and into 2013, including continuing uncertainty within the eurozone, and significant concern regarding rising costs, especially fuel costs.
The CPA sees the prospect of an economic slowdown in the major European economies as well as increasing global energy and raw material prices as the major threats to further recovery in the UK construction products industry.
Kelly Forrest, CPA's senior economist, said, "With more than 75 percent of construction product exports being absorbed into the European market, recent forecasts from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicating a slowdown in key eurozone countries, such as Germany and France, potentially threaten prospects of further growth for product manufacturers."