Cement Supply in 2021
If you are hearing about stock shortages on Cement, and not sure why, we’ve caught up with our Commercial Manager, Tim Osborne, to update you with the latest on Cement supply.
What’s happening with Cement supply?
In England right now, there is an industry-wide difficulty with cement supply, meaning Builders
Merchants and DIY stores may have restricted purchases on the amount of cement you can buy.
What’s causing the difficulty with cement supply?
A number of factors are all coming together to create a perfect storm around cement supply.
These include;
- Market demand has increased, reducing the ability for suppliers to build stocks.
- There have been various manufacturing issues including problems with kilns & machinery that produce core ingredients, and a packaging issue leading to split bags.
- Hauliers are under pressure due to increased demand on delivered goods.
- Imports from outside the UK are seeing extended supply times due to current global
circumstances, and increased global demand.
What happens next?
Suppliers are working extremely hard to deliver cement product to Builders Merchants. Stock
allocations are being used as a method to ensure the widest spread of goods and availability
across the market. These measures will likely continue into Autumn 2021.
Will I be able to buy cement?
Yes. You can still buy cement.
Some branches will have restrictions on the number of bags that can be purchased at once – we would advise contacting your local Alsford branch for advice on this.
Should I delay my project?
If you need a small supply of cement for home DIY projects such as putting up Fencing, you should be able to source the products required. For larger projects such as extensions, we would
recommend liaising with your builder and taking their advice as to the best time frame for your
project, based on current supply conditions.