Of all the causes of supply chain issues in construction industry, brick shortage may be the most severe one. Latest data show that cancellations of existing orders have rapidly fallen, indicating that some builders have stockpile of bricks, which should protect them from further shortage. Additionally, fewer projects are canceled this year, and many were delayed in 2020. Industry leaders warn that, due to these developments, backlogs of certain products will extend into 2022, which means that on-time deliveries will be a rarity.
Key Takeaways:
- Government figures for June show that brick inventories have plunged to a 20-year low as deliveries exceed production.
- In one instance, brickwork in a new housing development had to be broken because stocks of the particular facing had dried up.
- Supply problems are causing brickwork contractors to face quoted lead times into 2022 for some products.
“It blamed a sharp fall in typical order cancellations rates, usually notified because of planning rejection or projects being postponed or canceled.”