New Zealand: Fletcher Building has suspended the production of its Pink Batts glass wool insulation at its plant in Canterbury region due to Covid-19 lockdown measures. RNZ News has reported that New Zealand entered Covid-19 lockdown level 4 in September 2021. As a result of the closure, Pink Batts insulation is in ‘extremely limited’ supply, including in the Auckland market.

Denmark: Rockwool recorded first-half consolidated sales of Euro1.45bn in 2021, up by 18% year-on-year from Euro1.23m in the first half of 2020. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 31% to Euro299m from Euro229m. The group’s net profit was Euro152m, up by 50% from Euro101m. Its insulation segment’s sales were Euro1.07bn, up by 16% from Euro921m. The producer said that all markets and businesses contributed positively to the result.

Chief executive officer Jens Birgersson said, “Robust economic activity combined with productivity gains helped us achieve second-quarter and first-half sales and earnings above pre-pandemic levels. We secured double-digit growth across all major business areas and geographic regions, with both insulation and systems segments contributing substantially to the positive overall results. As we expect the high demand in key markets to continue, we have upgraded our sales and earnings forecast. We foresee input cost pressures to persist in the coming months as well as some industry risks involving material and manpower constraints that could impact building activity.”

UK: Leeson Polyurethanes’ adhesive and coatings plant in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire caught fire following a series of explosions on the morning of 27 August 2021. Worcester News has reported that one person known to have been working in the plant at the time remains unaccounted for on 31 August 2021. Emergency services extinguished the blaze but have been unable to enter the site so far. The smoke cloud from the fire was visible over 60km away. It resulted in an evacuation of neighbouring residential streets.

US: Installed Building Products’ net revenue grew by 17% year-on-year to US$925m in the first half of 2021 from US$791m in the same period in 2020. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 18% to US$124m from US$105m.

Jeff Edwards, chairman and chief executive officer commented, “As expected, the building products supply chain remained constrained during the second quarter, which we believe will continue for the foreseeable future. These trends continue to impact our ability to purchase certain materials and, in some cases, affected our ability to complete work on behalf of certain customers primarily within our multi-family end market.”