MINSTER KEY PRODUCT AVAILABILITY UPDATE – 9th AUGUST

The availability and cost challenges across the Minster product portfolio continues to be volatile and unpredictable. This has been driven by a number of factors including raw material availability and cost increases, lack of haulage availability and a buoyant UK RMI market. We have also experienced delays in our Supply chains caused by factors such as Brexit (new ways of working), shipping delays, container shortages and the global impact Covid-19 continues to have.

Please be assured that our Supply chain and Procurement teams are working with our Supplier partners to mitigate disruption to your own business. 

A summary of our key product areas and what Minster are doing to help to mitigate the situation has been provided below:

Plasterboard

• The two Plasterboard Suppliers to Minster (British Gypsum and Siniat) are supplying product to Minster on a restricted allocation basis. 
• We are working closely with both Suppliers and monitoring demand levels to ensure that customers continue to be supported with supply of product. 
• With regards to the British Gypsum allocation indications are that Minster (and all BG Customers) will be supplied product at a rate lower than where we anticipate demand to be. 
• We expect this to be a challenging period and anticipate that the allocation will remain in place until there is some ‘softening’ in demand and raw material becomes more readily available.

Bagged Plasters

• Whilst there will be no allocation system on bagged plasters British Gypsum are currently reporting an 8 working day lead-time. 

Metal (Stud & Track British Gypsum/Siniat branded)

• The world steel market remains extremely volatile and unpredictable and it is anticipated that the situation will continue into 2022. 
• A monthly metal allocation is being available to Minster by British Gypsum and Siniat. The process is being managed to ensure that customers are supported despite the limited availability. 

Metal (Ceilings, Stud & Track)

• Minster work with a number of Metal Suppliers for supply of ceiling grid and non-branded stud and track systems. The category has been subject to significant inflation over 2021 and this shows no signs of abating.
• The global steel shortage means that we have allocations in place with our key suppliers. Our teams are carefully managing distribution of product on a project by project basis.

PIR Insulation

• Allocations remain in place with Recticel and Celotex.
• Due to lack of raw material (particularly the MDI chemical) we are anticipating a challenging period as the availability of PIR product across the market is far lower than anticipated demand levels. We would ask for your understanding during this challenging period.

Glasswool Insulation

• Our two main Glasswool suppliers (Isover and Superglass) have announced that they will be implementing allocations. The Isover allocation is now in place Superglass allocation will become effective in July.
• It is believed that pressure and high demand from the market is driving the allocation and it is anticipated that there will be significant price inflation in the category in the coming weeks.
• We are currently negotiating with our Suppliers to secure the highest possible allocation allowances. 

Foil Insulation

• No issues have been reported from Actis Insulation. Product remains on a 2-week delivery lead-time (Product is imported from France).

Rock/Stone Wool Insulation

• Rockwool are currently not reporting any production issues however haulage and driver availability is impacting lead-times on select orders.

Ceilings

• With the exception of the Knauf Topiq range there are currently no supply or availability issues reported from our main ceiling suppliers.

Indicative Lead Times

• Below is the current state of play with regards to supplier lead times, we have a substantial stock holding that is in place to mitigate the everyday issues that we often see in supply chain, to allow us smooth out the supply and demand – current issues are exceptional and even with our planning and commitment to stock, supply will be disrupted.