AMA Research have published the 4th edition of the report “Builders Merchants Market - Western Europe 2009” - incorporating original input and primary research, it represents an informed and up to date review of the market and with over 150 pages is excellent value for money.

Countires individually reviewed include

• France
• Germany
• Belgium
• The Netherlands

 This new 2009 edition reviews recent trends in key markets, assessing developments in market structure in terms of acquisitions, mergers and the role of buying groups in respective countries. Building material supply is also becoming more Pan-European in response to changing market structures and purchasing requirements.

Areas of particular interest:

• A BROAD ASSESSMENT OF THIS £80+ BILLION MARKET - reviews of market size, recent trends since 2003, key market influences, current and future developments, long term forecasts up to 2013.
• CONSTRUCTION/ECONOMY - trends and forecasts.
• PRODUCTS - Analysis of broad product groupings, mix by sector for each country.   
• BUILDERS MERCHANTS - Merchants shares by country, recent activities, company profiles, financial overview.
• HEAVYSIDE/LIGHTSIDE - Review of mix in each country.
• BUYING GROUPS - major players, shares, address details etc.
• FUTURE PROSPECTS

• Saint-Gobain, ADDOK, Adimat, Algorel, Alteral, Le Club Négoce, Anjac, Batiland, Bauking, Baustoffring Fördungsgesellschaft, Baustoffverbund Süd, BayWa AG, Bigmat, Brossette, CEDEO, Celo, Ciffreo Bona, CMEM-Tout Faire, Coeck NV Comafranc, CRH, Decours et Cabaud, Eurobaustoff, FIMS, Galvano Galvano Groothandel, GAPSA, GC Gruppe, Gedimat, Groupe Point.P, Hagebau, Hageholz, HAGRO Haustechnik Großhandels GmbH, ISG Comigro, Lapeyre Groupe, Larivière, MCD - MC Distribution, Mpro, Nieuwegein BV, Nordwest Handel AG, NOWEBAU, Orcab, Orcab, Plieger, PMO, Quéguiner, Raiffeisen Waren-Zentrale Rhein-Main eG, Rensa, Richardson Frères, Richter & Frenzel, Samse Group, Sanitair Union, SGB - Sanitary Group Belgium, Supersanit, Technische Unie (SONEPAR), Tereva, Timolia, UHT (Union Haustechnik GmbH), Van Marcke, Vegro, Verhelst NV, Veris Bouwmaterialengroep BV, Vihamij BV, VM Matériaux, Wasco, Wolseley France.

• ECONOMIC BACKGROUND
• General Economic overview and introduction.
• Demographic profiling.
• Economic background, historical context.
• Construction activity levels - trends in 2008-09, forecasts.
• Housing market - recent activity.
• BUILDERS MERCHANTS MARKET IN WESTERN EUROPE
• Overall size & structure of West European market - including UK
• Market size for France, Germany, Belgium & The Netherlands.
• Market trends since 2003 and forecasts of future developments.
• Merchant market structure analysis.
• Merchants - market shares, international, local operations.
• Buying Groups - key players, shares, recent changes etc.
• Key supplier profiles to the lightside sector for each country
• Key supplier profiles to the heavyside sector for each country.
• Key market issues & influence.
• Comparisons with UK market - size, trends, structure etc.
• Future prospects up to 2013.
• Sources of further information, Contact details.

Belgium and the Netherlands have performed particularly well in the period 2004-2008, with France also progressing well. The German builders merchant market, serving a struggling construction market, has not progressed strongly, though with more growth seen in 2006-2008 as the German economy and consumer confidence showed stronger signs of recovery. In the UK, market development has been volatile, with strong growth in 2004-07, before a relatively strong decline in 2008 compared to other key markets.

In terms of the overall builders merchants market within the EU, there are various estimates of market size. AMA estimate the market in the EU to be worth around €138 billion (Euros) in 2008 equivalent to around £120-125 billion (Sterling), depending on exchange rates. 2009 Is likely to result in a decline in all markets, with new housing badly affected in all countries. RMI work typically depends on consumer confidence which is relatively fragile across all major European economies, while non-residential construction is also under pressure reflecting financing constraints.

This report includes an analysis of the builders merchants markets in Germany, France, Belgium/Netherlands and includes a review of the differences in structure of the respective countries, highlighting overall market sizes, key market trends, major suppliers and distribution issues.

Since the last edition of this report, the structure of the markets under review has continued to change. Three key multi-national groups remain significant in these markets - Saint-Gobain, whose Building Materials Distribution division claims to be the European leader in building materials distribution, Wolseley plc, the UK based company which claims to be the world’s largest specialist trade distributor of heating and plumbing products and CRH, the Irish building materials group.

In 2007-08, there has been significant activity among buying groups with acquisitions and mergers within national boundaries, as well as pan-European links being developed to combat the growth of the major groups. The role and scale of independents varies between the different markets, but one market to stand out as highly fragmented is Belgium which constitutes a very large number of independents with no large international company dominating the market in comparison to France, for example.

In the future, the four markets under review are likely to see further rationalisation over the longer term, though the major international groups are suspending their acquisition programmes in the short 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. The European building materials market has become increasingly concentrated with the emergence of more pan-European groups in most key sectors, though companies still continue to develop concepts and products which can fit into the national markets in which they operate.

This report reviews the supply trends in each of the markets, illustrating the current position of the leading merchants and identifying areas of potential change in the future, while also reviewing key factors influencing product trends.

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