Reviews of West European Builders Merchants Market

The 3rd edition from AMA Research and is widely recognised as one of the key reviews of the Western European Builders Merchant Market.

New AMA Report Reviews the West European Builders Merchants Market.

The Western European Builders Merchants market was worth an estimated GBP83 billion in 2006 and has developed very differently in separate countries according to the "Builders Merchants - Western Europe 2007", report recently published by AMA Research.

The report, which is available for purchase at GBP745, assesses current trends in both supply and distribution, reviewing recent market trends and potential areas of change in the future, particularly in relation to supply structure.

Builders merchants markets in a number of key counties - Germany, France Belgium / the Netherlands are reviewed, including differences in the structure of the respective countries, identification of key market trends and major suppliers and distribution issues.

The German builders merchants market, serving a struggling construction market in recent years, has finally experienced good improvement in 2006 and there is cautious optimism for 2007 as the German economy and consumer confidence shows stronger signs of recovery.

France has seen good development in the market on the strength of a booming housing market, but forecasts for 2007 are for more modest growth, while Belgium has also experienced buoyant market conditions Building material supply and distribution is becoming increasingly international in Western Europe, with the emergence of pan-European groups in many key sectors.

For example, St Gobain's Building Materials Distribution division claims to be the European leader in building materials distribution, while Wolseley plc, the UK based company are the world's largest specialist trade distributor of heating and plumbing products.

However, independent merchants continue to thrive in some markets, largely through forging stronger links via purchasing groups, which are now spreading over international borders to increase purchasing power with key suppliers.

Future prospects for the four markets under review are dependent on the performance of the economy and construction markets, in particular, which are likely to see some underlying growth in the short-medium term.

Alongside structural changes in distribution, the markets are also likely to see increased concentration of supply as large groups seek to rationalise supply structures across European and global markets.

The "Builders Merchant Market - Western Europe 2007" published by AMA Research is available in electronic or hard copy format and can be ordered online at the website or by calling 01242 235724.

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