UK: SIG recorded sales of €1.49bn in the first half of 2025, down by 1% year-on-year. The producer made an underlying loss before tax of €11.8m, a rise of 56% year-on-year. Free cash outflow fell by 58% to €10.7m.

Chief financial officer Ian Ashton said "The group's robust trading results reflect continuing outperformance of markets that remain subdued. Cost, productivity and cash initiatives have remained a key focus in the period, as has the ongoing implementation of strategic and operational improvements that are positioning the group to win in the long term."

The group retained its full-year 2025 outlook of earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) of €36.3m. It expects ‘no notable pick-up in demand’ in the second half of 2025.

World: Demand for sheep’s wool insulation will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11% between 2024 and 2031, according to a new report from US-based Market Research Intellect. This will expand the market from a value of US$500m in 2024 to US$1.2bn in 2031.

New developments in processing and treatment enable sheep’s wool insulation to attain to comparable durability and fire resistance to conventional insulation materials. Other anticipated growth drivers include increased demand for reduced-CO₂, biodegradable and moisture-regulating building materials and increased government funding and tax incentives. Europe held a ‘significant’ share of the sheep’s wool insulation market in 2024. Public-private partnerships and national transformation agendas, especially in emerging economies, are reportedly creating favourable conditions for global growth.

US: Saint-Gobain subsidiary CertainTeed Interior Products Group has recycled 454,000t of insulation fibres from its Kansas City plant in Kansas as raw materials for ceiling panel production at its L'Anse plant in Michigan. The company has run the initiative for 12 months. HBSDealer News has reported that it avoided 2000t of CO₂ emissions.

CertainTeed Interior Products Group president Jay Bachmann said "I commend our teams in Kansas City and L'Anse who through innovation, collaboration and out-of-the-box thinking are reducing waste and exemplifying Saint-Gobain's mission to be the leader in light and sustainable construction."

Switzerland: Sika recorded sales of €6.09bn in the first half of 2025, down by 3% year-on-year. It noted foreign currency impacts, including a weak US Dollar, offsetting ‘modest’ local sales growth across its operations. Organic growth was 1% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, 1% in the Americas region and 2% in the Asia/Pacific region, with a 1% acquisition effect globally. Group earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were €1.15bn, down by 2% year-on-year. Sika expects to record full-year sales growth in local currencies in 2025.

During the first half of 2025, Sika acquired Singapore-based green roof supplier Elmich, UK-based for roofing products supplier Cromar Building Products, US-based finishing materials and waterproofing producer HPS North America and Qatar-based concrete admixtures, mortars, flooring and waterproofing producer Gulf Additive Factory. It opened new plants in Brazil, China, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Morocco and Singapore.