BEAMA issued a statement in December 2020 to explain that the construction industry supply chain in the UK was experiencing greatly extended lead times for steel cable management products. The purpose of this further statement is to provide an update on this situation.
The leading UK manufacturing companies of steel cable management (who are also members of BEAMA) previously indicated that they were experiencing severe production
capacity restraints caused by deteriorating availability of supplies of the types of steel used in cable management products, from their stockholders who source the raw
material globally from the steel producers. This also resulted in increasing steel costs in the supply chain.
The lack of raw material, which is a widespread global issue, was initially caused by a dramatic worldwide reduction in the production of steel at mills around the world, during the early part of 2020. This was caused by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Since the middle of 2020 demand for the types of steel used in cable management products,
together with many other applications, has greatly increased across the world as businesses attempt to recover from the disruption to meet increasing general demand, and to complete unfinished projects.
The result was that demand far exceeded supply to an unprecedented degree with a forecast that this would continue well into 2021, and that this supply shortage of essential
raw materials would inevitably affect availability of finished products.
BEAMA members acknowledge the assistance received from industry partners in terms of project planning support during this period.
The current situation is that the availability of steel remains problematic. There are some signs of improvement, but it is likely to be several more months before the situation
eases. In addition, increasing steel costs are a continuing effect of the supply issues.
Our members who manufacture non-metallic cable management products are also experiencing raw material supply problems which has also led to increasing raw material
costs.
While manufacturers remain acutely aware of the many other external pressures on our construction industry partners, it is considered essential to provide this update to allow
for good project planning by individual operators.
BEAMA is the leading trade association in the UK representing manufacturers in the electrotechnical sector which includes cable management products. www.beama.org.uk
