Welcome to the latest edition of my bi-monthly market i nsights blog which brings together all the key aspects of the market insight reports that I provide. I will be producing this overview and summary every other month to ensure that you don’t miss any of the key information we are sharing with members.
Sales of construction and earthmoving equipment showed further growth in July, at 18.4% above last year’s levels. As a result, sales on a year-to-date basis have reached 17,900 units and are now 10.3% above last year’s levels in the first seven months of the year. Very strong sales of Telehandlers (for construction) were a key driver of sales in July. A single digit increase in sales is expected for the full year compared with 2024 with more modest increases in the second half of the year.
Members can view the latest report on equipment sales on the website here.
The August sales update will be published in the last week of September, so keep an eye out for that report.
The latest quarterly update on UK imports and exports of construction equipment for Q2 this year was published recently. Imports and exports both showed significant increases on Q1 levels and saw trade return to levels seen last year. Exports saw a 9% increase in tonnage shipped in Q2. The USA remained as the leading destination but saw its share of total exports fall to 19% in the first half of the year compared with 26% for the whole of last year. Most likely this was due to uncertainty over potential import tariffs being implemented. Imports saw a significant 24% increase in tonnage shipped in Q2 and has seen Japan take over as the leading source this year compared with China last year. The latest report includes some additional analysis of import data for the first time. Imports have always been shown in the past by country of dispatch, but in the Q2 update, analysis by the country of origin is also included for trade this year for the first time.
Members can view the latest report on equipment imports and exports on the website here.
UK trade in construction equipment in Q3 2025 should be available at the end of November.
The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) provides a summary of all things construction, from bricks to cement and is a good indicator of what is happening in the wider sector.
The Index in August remained at a low level at 45.5. This was a small increase on the 44.3 recorded in July, but this was the lowest level seen for five years. This continues to reflect the uncertainty that remains within the industry on prospects for growth this year. Not surprisingly all sectors continued to show a decline in August, with civil engineering and house building being the weakest.
The PMI for the UK construction market for August can be viewed here.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have published the latest data on construction activity. Output showed an increase of 0.3% in June, following a fall of 0.5% in May. This resulted in output showing a 1.2% increase in the second quarter of the year compared with Q1. This followed a stable first quarter and followed a modest increase in output of 0.5% last year in the latest revised figures from the ONS. The increase in output in Q2 was a combination of a 1.1% increase in new work and a 1.4% increase in repair and maintenance activity.
The Construction Products Association (CPA) published their Summer forecast in July. The statistics were unchanged on the Spring forecast anticipating modest growth in construction output this year of 1.9%, and then more significant growth of 3.7% in 2026. However, the commentary highlights that the economic risks and uncertainties have increased considerably in recent months. It remains to be seen whether the Autumn Budget might introduce any measures that could help construction activity.
The latest construction market update published by Glenigan in August flags up that planning approvals, contract awards and new project starts have been on a declining trend in recent months. However, it highlights that the recent Spending Review signals a brighter outlook with £165 billion identified for new builds, regeneration, and infrastructure, backed by a ten-year growth strategy.
There are many other key reports and indicators available on the market insights area of the CEA website. These are all member only resources, so I encourage you to take a look.
I trust you find this summary useful and a good reminder of all the key industry statistics and indicators that are available to you as CEA members. If there are any other measures or metrics you would like me to take a look at please don’t hesitate to get in touch.