Building Back Growth: European Sandwich Panels Market Shows Signs of Recovery

After two years of decline, the European Sandwich Panels market is starting to grow again, driven by an increase in renovation projects and a solid level of new investments in 2025. According to the study “IC Market Tracking – Sandwich Panels” by Interconnection Consulting, market volume remained nearly stable in 2025 (-0.3%), while value grew by 1.5%, indicating early signs of recovery. The outlook is more positive, with volumes expected to grow by 2.8% and value by 5.2% in 2026, supported by stronger demand and a shift toward higher-quality solutions.

Growth across Europe remains uneven, reflecting the fragmented recovery of the construction sector. Poland led with a 5.3% increase in volume, driven by thermal modernization and stricter energy standards, followed by Slovakia (+2.7%) and Switzerland (+2.8%), both supported by renovation and stable demand. In contrast, Austria declined sharply (-8.1%) due to a construction slowdown, while Germany (-2.1%) and Hungary (-2.1%) were affected by weak investment and cost pressures, although stabilization is emerging.

Demand is concentrated in industrial and logistics applications, with warehouses and production facilities representing 58.1% of total volume and remaining stable despite challenging conditions. Along with cold storage, these segments proved resilient. In contrast, cyclical sectors such as shopping malls, agriculture, and healthcare, education, and leisure buildings declined due to reduced investment activity.

Key trends include rising demand for energy-efficient and compliant solutions, increasing use of mineral wool (28.8% share), and the continued dominance of PUR/PIR panels (69.0%), reflecting their strong performance in insulation efficiency. Steel price fluctuations continue to impact costs, particularly as steel represents over 94.9% of cover material usage.

Pricing remained largely stable across Europe, with price increase of around 1–2%. Only Germany recorded a slight decline (-1%), while the UK showed the strongest increase (+4%). Overall, stabilizing input costs and subdued demand are intensifying competitive pressure.

The European market is moderately consolidated, with the top six players holding 48.5% share. Large groups leverage scale, while regional firms compete through flexibility and local proximity. Key companies include ArcelorMittal, Brucha, Falk, Gór-Stal, Isolpack, Isopan, Italpannelli, Izopanel, Kingspan, Lattonedil, Marcegaglia, Metecno, Pruszynski, Romakowski, Ruukki, Tata Steel, and Trimo.

“After two years of decline, we are seeing the first signs of stabilization. The recovery will be gradual, driven by energy efficiency, stricter regulations, and the need for safer and more sustainable buildings,” explains Robert Lukac, author of the study.

Overall, the market is expected to return to gradual growth from 2026 onwards, exceeding 135.6 million square meters by 2028, driven by sustainability trends, regulation, and construction sector developments.