The plumbing market - France (2024)

1.2 World Market

Global carwash market World, ****-*****, in $ Billions Source: ****

The global plumbing market, valued at $**.* billion in ****, is experiencing impressive momentum and is expected to grow at a significant compound annual growth rate (***) of over *.*% over the forecast period from **** to ****.

This growth projects the market to reach $**.* billion by ****, underlining the growing importance of infrastructure needs and sustainable technologies in the sector.

Revenue share of the bathroom plumbing market, by end use, World, ****, in Source: ****

This chart shows the revenue breakdown of the bathroom plumbing market, with a clear dominance of the residential sector, which accounts for **% of the global market in ****. The commercial sector is not to be outdone, with **%, reflecting the importance of infrastructure projects for public buildings, hotels and offices.

1.3 A growing national market

Estimated market size for "Water and gas installation work on all premises" France, ****-****, in billions of euros Source: ****

This graph reveals a clear and marked trend in the water and gas installation sector in France. Between **** and ****, the market grew steadily from * billion euros in **** to over **.* billion euros in ****.

What's particularly striking is the acceleration from **** onwards, with a spectacular increase of over * billion euros in just three years. This momentum is underpinned by energy renovationsand the transition to greener infrastructures.

The rise of this sector suggests a promising future for companies that seize the opportunities offered by green transformation.

2.1 The impact of the real estate crisis

Trend in sales of older homes France, ****-*****, by units sold **** : (***) Source: ****

Trends in the number of real estate transactions in the older housing segment have a direct influence on activity in the plumbing sector. This is because, on a fairly regular basis, renovation work is undertaken following these sales.

Between **** and ****, we observed continuous growth in the volume of sales of older homes, with an average increase of *.**%. However, from **** onwards, various factors such as rising interest rates and declining household purchasing power, linked to inflation, caused a steady decline in the sale of older homes. In July ****, the volume of transactions even reached a level similar to that recorded five years earlier, in ****.

New housing construction France, ****-****, in housing units Source: ****

In July ****, housing authorizations rose to **,*** units, up *.*% on June ****. However, this figure remains **% below the average for the ** months prior to the first containment, taking into account seasonally and working-day adjusted data.

Between August **** and July ****, ***,*** housing units were authorized for construction, down **.*% (***).

In July ****, **,*** housing units were started, up **.*% (***) on June ****. However, this figure remains **% below the average for the ** months prior to the health crisis.

Over the last ** months, ***,*** housing units were started, representing ...

2.2 Energy renovation supports the plumbing sector

There are a number of energy renovation incentives available, but we're going to focus on those that are most relevant to the plumbing sector. MaPrimeRénov', in particular, stands out for its direct impact on plumbing, especially for work related to heating and hot water. It enables households and condominiums to finance efficient heating systems, such as condensing boilers or heat pumps. For specific heating and hot water work, MaPrimeRénov' offers grants of up to **,*** euros, while thermal insulation, although important, receives a more standardized grant of ** euros/m².

In comparison, the Eco-prêt à taux zéro (***) also covers plumbing, financing insulation, heating and water works.insulation, heating or hot water, but it is designed more for comprehensive renovations or sanitation, with much higher amounts for multiple works:**,*** euros for a one-off renovation involving three jobs, or even **,*** euros for an overall renovation. Although it can be used for plumbing, the scheme is widely extended to other areas such as wall insulation or roofing, thus limiting its direct impact on plumbing systems alone [***]

MaPrimeRénov' is therefore fully in line with incentive schemes promoting energy renovation, with a particular focus on heating and domestic hot water systems, which fall directly ...

2.3 Do it yourself plumbing

Global DIY market World, ****-****, in $ billions Source: ****

The chart shows a sharp rise in the global DIY market, from $***.* billion in **** to a projected $*,*** billion by ****, an increase of almost**% in less than a decade. This global expansion testifies to thegrowing craze for Do It Yourself, particularly in response to confinements, where many consumers have begun to make, repair or renovate on their own.

In France, this trend exploded in ****, with **% of French people saying they indulge in DIY , whether it's DIY, gardening or renovation. The market is largely dominated by major players such as Leroy Merlin(***), which have recorded significant sales figures.

In ****, Leroy Merlin generated sales of €**.** billion, while Castorama achieved sales of €**.** billion. The dynamism of the DIY market in France can be explained by consumers' desire to better control their budgets, personalize their spaces, and engage in a more environmentally-friendly approach, while enjoying the pleasure of doing things themselves.

With such growth and a booming market, DIY is establishing itself as a sustainable trend, supported by a solid commercial infrastructure and strong demand from French consumers.

Which activities concern DIY? France, ****, in Source: ****

This graph shows DIY (***) activities in France in ****. Unsurprisingly, cooking dominates, with **% of ...

2.4 Internet searches and trade flows

Change by department ****-**** France, ****-****, in Source: ****

The table highlights changes in sales in various DIY sectors between **** and ****.

In the plumbing-SDB-heating sector, there is a *% increase in value, despite a *% drop in volume. This is largely due to inflation, which has enabled product prices to be maintained or even increased, even though the number of sales has fallen. Consumers are buying less, but the products sold are more expensive, helping to stabilize market value.

Search volume ****-**** France, ****-****, in Source: ****

The graph shows the evolution of search volume by sector in France between **** and ****. While plumbing-SDB-heating-related searches are down by *.*%, heating and ventilation searches are up by a substantial **.**%. This indicates that, while interest in general plumbing is declining, demand for heating systems- a key area for specialist plumbers- remains not only stable, but rising sharply.

This is an interesting dynamic for the plumbing sector. Indeed, heating is an integral part of the services offered by plumbers, particularly for the installation, maintenance or replacement of boilers, heat pumps and other thermal systems. The increase in searches in this field may indicate an opportunity for plumbing professionals specializing in heating.

On the other hand, the drop in searches for ...

3.1 Value chain

Value chain:

Raw materials suppliers: They produce the metals, plastics and other materials used in the manufacture of plumbing products. Ex: ArcelorMittal

Component manufacturers: They transform raw materials into finished products such as pipes, faucets, boilers and fittings used by installers. Ex: Grohe

Specialized wholesalers: They buy components in large quantities from manufacturers and distribute them to craftsmen, installers and retailers. Ex: Anjac CSI

Installers and craftsmen: These are the people who install and repair plumbing and heating systems for private homes, condominiums and businesses. Ex: ENGIE Home service

End customers: They buy the services of installers or plumbing products for their construction or renovation projects. Ex: private individuals, property developers.

After-sales and maintenance services: They provide repair, maintenance and warranty services after installation to extend the life of plumbing equipment. Ex: Veolia, which offers maintenance contracts for water systems

3.2 Volume and geographical breakdown of companies and employees

Number of companies in the "water and gas installation work on all premises" sector France, ****-****, in thousands Source: ****

The graph shows steady growth in the number of companies in the " water and gas installation work on all premises " sector in France.

Between **** and ****, the number of companies rose from **,*** to **,***, an increase of around **% over this period. This growth reflects strong demand in the sector, driven in particular by energy renovation and improvements to domestic infrastructures. Since ****, the increase has been particularly marked, with a leap of over *,*** additional companies in just three years.

Number of employees in the "water and gas installation work on all premises" sector France, ****-****, in thousands Source: ****

The graph shows a gradual increase in the number of employees in the " water and gas installation work on all premises " sector in France between **** and ****.

The workforce rose from **,*** in **** to **,*** in ****, representing growth of almost **% in the space of seven years.

This increase reflects the growing demand for these trades, supported in particular by energy renovation and the increased need for efficient heating and plumbing systems. However, after peaking in **** with **,*** employees, there will be a slight decline in ****, suggesting a possible stabilization of the ...

3.3 A sector with few barriers to entry

Fund origin Paris, ****, in units Source: ****

Of the **** companies registered in the "Water and gas installation work on all premises" sector in Paris, **** were start-ups. In fact, **% of companies in this sector in Paris are start-ups, not takeovers. This speaks volumes about market barriers, which are by inference almost non-existent.

Before setting up a plumbing business, certain initial costs need to be anticipated, and these are not very significant, echoing the results found in the graph above. The overall start-up budget is around €**,***.

Among the main costs are the purchase or lease of a business vehicle, estimated at between €*,*** and €*,***, and computer equipment, costing between €*** and €*,***. Storage space, such as a hangar, will also be needed to store the equipment.

In addition, you'll need to take out ten-year insurance, which costs around €*,*** a year, as well as vehicle insurance. Last but not least, it's essential to ensure that you have enough cash to cover at least two months' fixed costs, to ensure a smooth start to the business. [***]

3.4 A highly fragmented sector

Water and gas installation companies for all premises France, ****, as % of total Source: ****

This graph shows the distribution of water and gas installation companies in France in ****. **% of these companies have between * and ** employees, which means that almost half the sector is made up of small businesses. The remaining **% are made up of companies of more varied sizes, but the majority of players in the sector are small.

This breakdown illustrates that the plumbing sector is highly fragmented. With a high concentration of small businesses, it's clear that the market is fragmented into many smaller structures, without the dominance of a small number of large players. This creates an environment where competition is local and decentralized, and where each plumber or small business holds a small share of the market.

3.5 A sector struggling to recruit

Let's take a look at what this map tells us about opportunities for plumbers-heaters across France in ****. The national average of recruitment difficulties for these professions is **.*%. This means that in almost * out of ** cases, companies are struggling to recruit plumbers/heaters. This figure illustrates a real demand and an opportunity for those wishing to enter this profession.

Some regions, such as Brittany and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, are experiencing slightly more moderate difficulties, but the rates are still high, at around **-**%. These are regions where there is still demand, but tensions are slightly lower.

On the other hand, in regions such as the Grand Est and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, companies are experiencing recruitment difficulties of over **%, and even **% in Corsica. This shows just how much these regions need new talent to meet the needs of their populations and local infrastructures.

Recruitment difficulties by profession Île de France, ****, % of total Source: ****

This graph highlights recruitment difficulties by trade in Île-de-France in ****. We can see that certain trades, particularly in the technical and craft sectors, such as welders, roofers and plumbers/heaters, are experiencing very high recruitment difficulty rates, with well over two-thirds of positions unfilled.

These trades seem to be the most affected by ...

4.1 Offer typology

There are three different categories of plumbing work:

Zinc plumbing, which deals with water drainage and collection (***). It's called this because it involves applying a zinc coating to ensure watertightness.

Central heating: Involves installing and repairing heating systems in the home: wall-mounted, floor-standing or oil-fired boilers. The plumber is also a heating engineer, dealing with boilers, radiators and piping.

Sanitary plumbing: involves supplying a home with hot and cold water for consumption and convenience (***). On the one hand, there are all the installation operations: tap fitting, installation of sanitary plumbing equipment. On the other, there's all sanitary troubleshooting: repairing water leaks, unclogging drains, unclogging septic tanks. [***]

Next, we note that the plumbing market operates in two main markets:

Maintenance-renovation: involves refurbishing piping systems, changing pipes, etc.

Construction: installation of plumbing fixtures, boilers, bathtubs, toilets, etc.

Breakdown of Building sales by business segment France, ****, in Source: ****

Maintenance and renovation as a whole will account for more than **% of building sales in ****, making it the most important market in the building sector.

As plumbing is correlated with the building sector, we can deduce thatrenovation maintenance accounts for a major share of overall sales in the plumbing market.

4.2 Prices for plumbing services

The table shows hourly rates (***) for plumbing work in different areas and situations. In the Île-de-France region, hourly rates range from €** to €**, with travel expenses between €** and €**. For work at weekends or on public holidays, rates are **% to **% higher than standard rates. In all cases, VAT is charged at **%

The table shows estimated prices for various common plumbing jobs, such as repairing leaks, replacing faucets or installing sanitaryware. Prices vary according to the type of service, ranging from €*** for unblocking a drain to over €*** for installing a bathtub.

The table shows a price range for heating system installation work, from the installation of a boiler(***) to the installation of an air-water heat pump, with a purchase price of up to €**,*** and installation costs of €*** to €*,***.[***]

4.3 Connected plumbing

Connected plumbing refers to the integration of intelligent technologies into plumbing systems, enabling automated and optimized control of domestic infrastructures.

This new generation of plumbing transforms traditional equipment, such as faucets and water heaters, into intelligent devices, capable of responding to voice commands, monitoring consumption in real time and preventing problems before they become critical.

This concept goes far beyond basic installations, introducing innovative solutions to improve efficiency, water management and comfort in the home.

Connected plumbing systems bring significant added value, particularly in terms of resource management, maintenance and everyday comfort. We can list three main ones:

Controlling water consumption: users can monitor their consumption via mobile apps, which not only makes them aware of the volumes of water being used, but also enables them to adjust behavior to reduce wastage. This is particularly useful for those wishing to save money while adopting more environmentally-friendly practices.

Preventing problems : One of the main benefits of connected plumbing lies in its ability to detect anomalies such as leaks. Thanks to sensors that continuously monitor systems, users receive instant alerts in the event of a problem, enabling rapid intervention and avoiding costly water damage.

Improved comfort: Innovations such asvoice-activated faucets and showers, or ...

4.4 Contactless valves

Non-contact faucets use infrared sensors to detect movement and automatically activate or deactivate the water flow. Unlike traditional faucets, these models require no manual action to open or close. Usually placed on the faucet spout, the sensor detects the presence of hands and triggers the flow of water as soon as they approach, stopping the flow when they move away.

These solutions began to gain momentum during the **** pandemic, during which every gesture to reduce the spread of the virus was welcome. The main benefits of touchless faucets include

water savings: The main benefit of this type of faucet is reduced water consumption. By limiting the flow of water only when it is really needed, these systems can reduce water consumption by up to **%.

Better hygiene : Touchless faucets minimize the transmission of germs and pathogens. Since you don't have to touch the faucet with dirty hands to open or close it, the risk of cross-contamination is reduced.

Ease of use: These faucets are easy to use, especially for children, the elderly or people with disabilities. The fact that no force or manipulation is required to activate the faucet makes it a practical choice, especially when hands are busy or when you ...

5.1 Regulations

RE**** (***): from January *, ****, this standard imposes new requirements for the construction of new buildings, replacing RT****. It aims to reinforce energy sobriety, limit CO₂ emissions, and improve summer comfort in buildings. For the plumbing sector, this means using decarbonized heating and hot water systems, as well as optimizing plumbing installations to minimize the carbon footprint of buildings. [***]

Ban on lead in water installations: In accordance with the European directive, since December **, ****, lead levels in drinking water must not exceed ** µg/L. This regulation requires the replacement of old lead installations in both public and private networks, which places heavy demands on plumbers to bring infrastructures up to standard.

RGE (***), a fast-growing market. [***]

Maintenance of heating systems and hot water production: Boilers and other heating systems must be serviced annually by professionals in the sector, in accordance with regulations in force since ****. This compulsory maintenance is a recurring market for plumbers. [***]

Reducing fluorinated GHGs: Air-conditioning and heat pump systems using fluorinated greenhouse gases are subject to strict containment and maintenance rules, in line with European standards from May ****. Plumbers must ensure that installed systems comply with these regulations to avoid penalties.

5.2 Future regulations

Ban on boilers in new multi-family homes (***): The ban on gas-fired boilers in new single-family homes, effective since ****, will be extended to new multi-family homes from **** in line with the RE****. This new step will encourage builders to opt for more environmentally-friendly alternatives, such as heat pumps or biomass boilers, to meet building decarbonization standards. [***]

6.1 Player segmentation

The table above provides an overview of the main players in the French plumbing sector. It includes national and international companies, most of which are listed on the stock exchange, as well as family-run businesses with subsidiaries directly involved in plumbing activities.

The sales figures for **** underline the economic importance of these companies in the sector. For example, Vinci Energie has sales of €*** million, while Bouygues Energy has sales of over €* billion. by way of comparison, family businesses such as Acorus and Balas generate sales of €*** million and €*** million respectively.

Source: ****

• Axima Concept (Engie)
• Bouygues Construction
• SPIE
• Anvolia
• Fouchard
• UTB
• Gallier
• Entreprise Clément
• Entreprise Marin
• Habitatpresto
• Izi by EDF
• Hammel Robinetterie
• Martin Belaysoud - Tereva
• Descours et Cabaud
• Rubix Europe
• EnChantier.com (Groupe Batiactu)
• Kramer WTS (Kohler Group)
• Axenergie
• Dompro
• Cedeo