Quarter 1 2026 was phenomenal for paving sales, as merchants stocked up ahead of potential product shortages and price rises.

Sandstone shortages was something I touched on in my previous comment; an extended monsoon season in India flooded quarries in the north and production had ground to a halt. On a visit in March, we saw that production had resumed but the months lost have caused major shortages, pushing up sandstone prices.

Unfortunately, Indian porcelain supplies have also been impacted this year. Not by rain, but by the fuel shortages caused by the blockades in the Strait of Hormuz. Production ceased completely for a short time. Now the factories are open again the production price for porcelain has gone up. We have good supplies of European mid-range porcelain, and the price points between this and what used to be an entry level offer from India is now narrowing.

Difficulties in getting stock from India have been compounded by the challenges we are facing due to the Iran war. Shipping costs have doubled, and while we are a long way short of the peaks we saw during Covid, container prices remain volatile and will be throughout the year.

The uplift in Q1 sales reflects merchants and suppliers working together to secure stock levels, rather than an accurate reflection of consumer demand which is very difficult to read. Some landscapers tell us they have full order books for 2026; others are in a desperate situation. Merchants too are finding the market to be boom or bust.

The next few months will be telling. We could see more people staying at home this summer, with holidays abroad subject to fuel surcharges and cancellations. With money in the bank, homeowners might be more inclined to spend on their gardens. This of course hinges on the weather! If it’s a washout, holidays abroad will be back in, and home improvements out.

What the rest of 2026 looks like depends on so many variables – none of which are in suppliers’ control. All we can do is our best to ensure the paving products customers want are on the ground, in stock when they need them.