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Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Martha Garcia Guerrero Martha Garcia Guerrero London, United Kingdom Last Updated: November 2024 SIC C25.110

Revenue

£8.4bn

2024-25

£8.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XXX.Xm

Employees

62,548

Businesses

3,268

Wages

£X.Xbn

Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK industry analysis

Metal structure manufacturers have faced a series of hurdles in the past years, as macroeconomic headwinds dampened downstream demand from key markets, mainly construction. Over the five years through 2024-25, metal structure makers' revenue is forecast to fall at a compound annual rate of 2.2% to £8.4 billion. Metal structure manufacturers faced considerable challenges in 2020-21. Supply chain disruptions, economic instability and fluctuating commodity prices, particularly steel, tanked revenue. Costs associated with raw materials, mainly influenced by steel prices, were passed through the supply chain, resulting in lower-end prices and diminished profitability. Despite a rebound in 2021-22, revenue dipped over the two years through 2023-24 amid rising inflation and project delays in the construction sector.

Trends and Insights

  • Revenue expansion has been subdued. This is due to macroeconomic headwinds, including rising inflation, supply chain difficulties, surging raw material prices and rising interest rates.
  • Demand for metal frameworks for construction remains flat. Persistently high inflation and interest rates are limiting downstream construction activity, dampening demand for metal structures.
  • The West Midlands has a large number of industry establishments. Many construction companies (a key downstream market) are located in the region and its proximity to key cities reduces transport costs, a noteworthy concern given industry products are heavy.
  • Manufacturers compete on price, quality and brand recognition. This is due to the homogeneous nature of industry products. For specialised metal structures (like curtain wall brackets) brand recognition and technical expertise are likely to be more influential in determining demand.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £8.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Metal structure manufacturers grapple with volatile raw material costs

  • The industry relies on a rigorous supply chain for various commodity prices, most importantly the global price of steel and aluminium. Volatile metal prices, greater regulatory pressures and economic disruptions during the pandemic have all pressurised profitability.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Brexit brings about issues regarding EU steel, an important industry input

  • The Brexit-induced trade challenges continue to significantly affect the UK metal structure manufacturing industry, particularly its essential input—steel. Despite the EU-UK trade deal being advertised as free from quotas and tariffs, UK steel exports to the EU above a certain quota attract a 25% tariff.

Biggest companies in the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
Kingspan Group Ltd
1,033.6
Tata Steel Europe Ltd
406.6
Severfield plc
282.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Metal frameworks for construction , Metal parts for construction and Metal frameworks for industrial use. Metal frameworks for construction is the largest segment of the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Demand for metal frameworks for construction remains subdued

  • Metal frameworks for construction include the likes of steel beams, roof trusses, bridges and girders, widely used in new construction projects.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry manufacture metal structures such as metal frameworks, construction parts, and industrial frameworks. Steel beams, purlins, trusses and brackets are essential for constructing multi-storey buildings, wide-span structures and roofs. Prefabricated metal buildings are used for applications ranging from classrooms, tourist cabins and sports venues to the construction of site offices and public toilets.

What's included in this industry?

Metal frameworks for constructionMetal parts for constructionMetal frameworks for industrial usePrefabricated buildings

Companies

Kingspan Group LtdTata Steel Europe LtdSeverfield plc

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

PURLINBEAMCOLD-ROLLED STRUCTURAL SHAPES

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 25.11 - Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Revenue expansion has been subdued. This is due to macroeconomic headwinds, including rising inflation, supply chain difficulties, surging raw material prices and rising inte...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Demand for metal frameworks for construction remains flat. Persistently high inflation and interest rates are limiting downstream construction activity, dampening demand for ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The West Midlands has a large number of industry establishments. Many construction companies (a key downstream market) are located in the region and its proximity to key citi...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Manufacturers compete on price, quality and brand recognition. This is due to the homogeneous nature of industry products. For specialised metal structures (like curtain wall...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Kingspan is associated with the Grenfell Tower incident. Kingspan’s Kooltherm K15 product was used in the tower's refurbishment and the company has blamed unacceptable employ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Kingspan Group Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Tata Steel Europe Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Severfield plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Kingspan Group Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Tata Steel Europe Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Severfield plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Demand from residential building construction is falling. Despite government policies aimed at increasing housing supply, residential construction activity is falling, limiti...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Industry profitability is influenced by trends in downstream construction markets. High demand from construction supports a healthy profit for metal structure manufacturers.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £8.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 3,268 businesses in the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Metal Structure Manufacturing market in United Kingdom are Kingspan Group Ltd, Tata Steel Europe Ltd and Severfield plc

What does the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Metal frameworks for construction and Metal parts for construction are part of the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Kingspan Group Ltd.

How competitive is the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Metal Structure Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Steel Casting in the UK
  • Metal Door & Window Manufacturing in the UK
  • Lock & Hinge Manufacturing in the UK

International industries

  • Structural Metal Product Manufacturing in the US
  • Offshore Oil Rig & Platform Construction in the US
  • Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing in the US
  • Structural Metal Product Manufacturing in Canada
  • Structural Metal Product Manufacturing in Australia

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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