Slate manufacturers are taking back positions

Recommendation points

• In early 2016, slate accounted for 12% of total sales. At the end of 2016, the percentage reached 16%
• Pricing drives sales
• Up to 20% of slate is exported

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In early 2016, slate accounted for 12% of total sales. At the end of 2016, the percentage reached 16%

For the last couple of decades, such roofing material as slate has been losing ground, yielding to various types of tiles and roll materials. However, according to the experts of the Chrysotile Association, it is premature to talk about the final surrender. In Soviet times, slate, a roofing material made from cement, water and the natural mineral chrysotile asbestos, was used everywhere. They covered both multi-storey buildings and private houses. Over the past 25 years, slate has noticeably given way to metal roofing materials, ondulin and flexible roofing.

Among other things, the decrease in the proportion of slate is associated with changes in design and architecture: flat roofs began to prevail over pitched roofs, and slate is used specifically for pitched roofs. If in 2003 the segment ratio was equal, in 2014 the share of materials for flat roofs increased to 60%.

In Russia, 12 enterprises are engaged in the production of corrugated chrysotile cement sheets (slate)

Another important factor was that over the past three years, the market for all building materials has slightly sagged: due to the economic downturn, the number of buildings being built – both individual and multi-storey ones – has decreased..

As a result, over the past 10 years the number of Russian enterprises producing corrugated chrysotile cement sheets (slate) has decreased from 17 to 12 – five players have left the market. Now in each district of Russia there are one or two factories specializing in the manufacture of slate.

Pricing drives sales

Despite the general decline in the share of materials for pitched roofs, it is impossible to say that slate is no longer in demand. Moreover, according to a study by ABARUS Market Research, in 2016 this roofing material began to gain momentum again..

Prices in the market of roofing materials

In early 2016, slate accounted for 12% of total sales. At the end of 2016, the percentage reached 16%. Liberty Marketing Bureau, within the framework of marketing support for the activities of the Chrysotile Association, predicts that the trend will continue and the possibility of increasing the share of slate in the market by 2020 to 18%.

“This is primarily due to the cost of chrysotile cement sheets. Slate is cheaper than other roofing materials, and while incomes of the population and companies have fallen, this is becoming a significant factor, ”experts say. However, efforts made by the Chrysotile Association to revive the use of slate are also showing results..

According to experts, despite the fact that the number of players on the market has decreased, the remaining manufacturers will be able to cover all the needs of builders in the material.

Up to 20% of slate is exported

Slate export structure

About 15 years ago, slate was produced mainly for Russia – no more than 3% of the total production volume went to countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan. In the last 3-5 years, the export of this type of roofing has started to grow. The former neighbors in the Soviet Union are still interested in slate, but now the vector of cooperation has shifted to the south: Russian slate is purchased by Moldova, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Georgia. Now the export share reaches 20% of the total produced material.

Slate manufacturers play into the hands of the fact that the import of this type of roofing into our country has been prohibited since 2006. True, Russian factories have to deal with counterfeit: despite the legislative restriction, some of the materials come from China illegally.

Construction market experts say that slate as a roofing material is gaining popularity again. It should be borne in mind that recently consumers are interested in modern types of material: for example, small-sized painted slate. So manufacturers should pay more attention to studying demand and developing new technologies..

Details on the site slate.rf.