SIG and Breedon both flag warnings about demand for rest of 2023

Construction products supplier SIG returned to the black last year but warned it expects demand to be weaker for the rest of 2023.

The firm, which has undergone a significant restructuring in the past couple of years, said pre-tax profit last year stood at £27.5m from a £15.9m loss last time.

Revenue at the business was up 20% to £2.7bn but chief executive Gavin Slark admitted: “Market conditions continue to vary across our geographic footprint but overall we expect weaker demand conditions to prevail during 2023, offset by a continued tailwind from input price inflation, albeit the latter will continue to moderate further this year.”

Operating profit was up from £14m to £56m.

Meanwhile, materials firm Breedon said this morning that results last year were ahead of expectations, with revenue in 2022 rising 13% to £1.4bn with pre-tax profit up 19% to £136m.

The firm said the UK economic outlook was “uncertain particularly with regard to residential housebuilding” but added the infrastructure and industrial markets would continue to grow because of ongoing demand.