In April, the building materials industry continued to operate in a generally weak trend. Production of major products declined year-on-year, ex-factory prices of products continued to fall at low levels, revenue of enterprises above designated size declined at a faster pace, while the decline in total profit narrowed. The glass fiber and products industry, as well as the building materials production machinery manufacturing sector, maintained stable operations, with key economic performance indicators continuing to grow year-on-year.

1. Slower production of building materials products

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in April, the value-added of the building materials industry decreased by 6.5% year-on-year, 1 percentage point wider than in March, indicating a continued downward trend.

Among 31 key monitored building materials products, 6 recorded year-on-year growth, while 25 declined. In particular, cement output reached 150 million tonnes, down 10.8% year-on-year, and flat glass output reached 72.83 million weight cases, down 7.9% year-on-year.

Products including glass fiber yarn, cement pressure pipes, waterproof materials, and cement-specialized equipment recorded year-on-year growth. In contrast, products such as concrete piles, granite slabs, tiles, sanitary ceramics, and others saw declines exceeding 20%, indicating relatively large drops.

From January to April, the value-added of the building materials industry above designated size decreased by 2.3% year-on-year, with the decline widening by 1.6 percentage points compared with the January–March period.

Among the 31 key monitored products, 7 recorded growth and 24 declined. Cement output totaled 440 million tonnes, down 8.6% year-on-year, while flat glass output reached 300 million weight cases, down 5.8%.

Glass fiber yarn, glass fiber cloth, waterproof materials, limestone, and concrete machinery recorded output growth. In contrast, products including ready-mixed concrete, concrete piles, ceramic tiles, sanitary ceramics, granite slabs, and gypsum boards saw declines of more than 10%.

2. Continued decline in ex-factory prices of products

In April, ex-factory prices of building materials products decreased by 0.8% month-on-month and 5.9% year-on-year, with the decline widening.

Among them, prices of wall materials, waterproof building materials, building stone, and glass fiber and composite materials increased month-on-month. Cement prices decreased by 2.9% month-on-month, while flat glass prices declined by 0.2% month-on-month.

From January to April, ex-factory prices of building materials products declined by 5.9% year-on-year, unchanged from the previous month.

Cement prices fell by 17.2% year-on-year and flat glass prices decreased by 15.1% year-on-year. In contrast, prices in waterproof building materials, glass fiber, and composite materials industries recorded year-on-year increases.

3. Decline in major economic performance indicators

From January to April, revenue of building materials enterprises above designated size decreased by 14.6% year-on-year, with the decline widening by 2.2 percentage points compared with January–March. Total profit decreased by 74.5% year-on-year, with the decline narrowing by 7.7 percentage points.

Among major subsectors, industries including thermal insulation materials, mineral fibers and products, fiber-reinforced plastics, non-metallic mineral mining, non-metallic mineral products, and building materials production machinery manufacturing maintained year-on-year revenue growth.

The glass fiber and products industry and the building materials production machinery manufacturing sector both recorded year-on-year profit growth.

4. Fixed asset investment decline widened

According to National Bureau of Statistics data, from January to April, fixed asset investment in the non-metallic mineral mining industry increased by 8.3% year-on-year, down 1.9 percentage points from January–March.

Fixed asset investment in the non-metallic mineral products industry decreased by 8.8% year-on-year, with the decline widening by 4.3 percentage points.

In particular, private fixed asset investment in the non-metallic mineral mining industry decreased by 8.2% year-on-year, while that in the non-metallic mineral products industry decreased by 8.8% year-on-year, with declines further expanding.

5. Steady but slowing import and export trade

In April, exports of building materials products reached 2.34 billion USD, down 29.5% year-on-year, with the decline widening.

From January to April, exports of building materials products totaled 11.48 billion USD, up 1.0% year-on-year. After adjusting for price factors, exports increased by 8.3%.

Exports to India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, and Russia maintained relatively rapid growth. Products including cement clinker, cement products, flat glass, tempered glass, optical fiber quartz glass, carbon fiber and products, building bricks, and gypsum recorded relatively fast export volume growth.

In April, imports of building materials products reached 1.34 billion USD, down 5.5% year-on-year. From January to April, imports totaled 5.12 billion USD, down 1.4% year-on-year.

Imports from Japan, the United States, Germany, Türkiye, and Brazil showed relatively fast growth. Products including cement, precast concrete components, glass fiber yarn, silica materials, building stone, and graphite recorded relatively rapid import volume growth.

Editor: Zhang Hanwen

Reviewer: Shen Yulu, Li Yuemei