Worries grow Gaza conflict and Red Sea attacks will see materials costs head back north, Gleeds survey finds

The latest market survey from Gleeds has said more than half of the respondents expect raw material prices to rise due to supply risks resulting from the conflict in Gaza and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Global tensions are now considered to be one of the biggest threats to the construction industry in the UK, behind interest rates, inflation and flagging investor confidence.

Over 80% of all those quizzed for its Q1 report said that high inflation was heavily impacting the viability of schemes, with 88% of contractors claiming that either they or their supply chain had declined a tender due to an untenable risk profile or lack of capacity over the preceding quarter.

Pressure is mounting as Houthi activity in the Red Sea, increased shipping costs and delays arising from reroutes around the Cape of Good Hope have led some Asian steelmakers to withdraw from the European market.

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The consultancy’s report also found that 54% of contractors questioned had been involved with projects impacted by insolvency in the past three months.

Gleeds chief executive Graham Harle admitted: “These are trying times. Global instability continues to add fuel to the fire of uncertainty in the UK construction sector. Our report shows that projects are being negatively impacted by an increasing number of insolvencies.”

Just 12% of those questioned said last November’s Autumn Statement had increased their confidence in the government’s ability to grow the economy, the report added.