Exports of construction materials rose by 拢112m in the second quarter of 2013 to 拢1,474m, a rise of 8% on the previous quarter. However, imports rose by 拢180m to 拢3,150m, a 6.1% increase.
As a result, the trade deficit widened by 拢68m to 拢1,676m for the second quarter of 2013.
The increase in the trade deficit was largely due to a widening in the trade deficit in semi-manufactures by 拢46m. The trade deficit in products and components widened by 拢21m and raw materials by 拢1m.
The numbers are revealed in the October edition of the Monthly Statistics of Building Materials and Components, published by the Department for Business Innovation & Skills.
Electrical wires topped last year's list of the most imported building material, while paints & varnishes was the most exported.
The stats also show that in the 12 months to September, deliveries of bricks rose by 22.3%, following a rise of 6.8% in the 12 months to August. Deliveries of blocks rose by 5.3%.
Deliveries of ready-mixed concrete rose by 11.7% in the year to September. This followed an increase of 20.9% in the year to June 2013.
Annual construction material price inflation rose to 1.1% in September, from 0.9% in August. Annual inflation in September was the joint highest (along with July 2013) since June 2012 (which was also 1.1%).
The construction materials experiencing the largest price increases in the 12 months to September were particle board (up 4.5%), sand & gravel excluding levy (up 4.3%) and imported sawn or planed wood (up 3.6%).
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