The plumbing market - Spain (2024)

1.3 The domestic market

Although there are no precise data on sales in the plumbing sector in Spain, the CNAE **.* statistical code defined byINE enables us to estimate sales within the Spanish construction sector.

The sector comprises :

Plumbing activities Electrical installations Other housing installations (***).

Sales of these activities fell sharply in **** (***) as a result of the Covid pandemic. The year **** also marks the industry's recovery, with sales higher than in **** for the first time since ****. Sales growth between **** and **** is *.**%.

Sales for CNAE code **.* Spain, ****-****, billions of euros Source: ****

2.1 Developments in Spain's construction sector

Spanish real estate structure:

In ****, the structure of the Spanish real estate market was dominated by multi-unit buildings.

Breakdown of housing types in Spain Spain, ****, in thousands Source: ****

In ****, the breakdown between apartment buildings and single-family homes will be **.**% for apartment buildings and **.**% for single-family homes.

Breakdown buildings/houses Spain, ****, % Source: ****

New construction:

Looking at data on building permits issued for the years **** to ****, a fluctuating trend emerges. In ****, the total number of permits issued was **,***, with the majority used for residential purposes, **,***, and the remainder, *,***, intended for non-residential use. However, a noticeable decrease is observed in ****, with only **,*** permits issued in total, marking a drop of **.**% due in particular to the covid ** pandemic. This trend reverses in ****, with a significant increase of **.**%, bringing the total to **,*** permits issued. Nevertheless, a slight decline is recorded in ****, with **,*** permits issued (***), followed by a further reduction in ****, when only **,*** permits were issued, down *.**% on the previous year.

Number of building permits issued in Spain Spain, ****-****, thousands of permits Source: ****

Residential sector:

Among building permits issued for the residential sector, single-family homes stand out with a **.**% share. Terraced houses follow, accounting for **.**% of all permits issued, while single-family collective constructions represent **.**%. Permits for ...

2.2 The Spanish construction budget

The graph below shows how much Spaniards will spend on a complete renovation of their home in ****. It can be seen that, in ****, **% of respondents had a budget in excess of €**,***.

Spending by Spaniards on work to completely renovate their homes. Spain, ****, euros Source: ****

In ****, **% of respondents had a budget of between €*** and €*** for a partial renovation, while **% had a budget of over €**,***.

Spending by Spaniards on a partial renovation of their home Spain, ****, % of total Source: ****

Finally, the bathroom appears to be a room favored by Spaniards, with **.*% of those who have carried out work in this room having done so.

Rooms most renovated by Spaniards in **** Spain, ****, % of total Source: ****

2.3 The sociological profile of the consumer

According to a survey carried out in **** by Habitissimo, a platform that compares quotes from service providers in the renovation sector, we obtain the following data on consumers in the renovation sector (***).

**% of end-users are women.

Breakdown of end-users by gender Spain, ****, % (***) Source: ****

Also, *% of consumers appear to be between ** and ** years of age. **% between ** and **. **% between ** and ** and **% of consumers in **** will be over ** .

age of indoor work consumer Spain, ****, % of consumers Source : Habitissimo Finally, the majority of consumers appear to be in a couple with children, with **% of those surveyed affirming this.

Family situation of home improvement customers Spain, ****, % Source: Habitissimo Source: ****

3.1 Value chain

The diagram below shows the value chain in the plumbing sector:

Supply of materials: Manufacture of pipes, fittings, faucets, valves, pumps and other plumbing equipment. Distribution of materials to wholesalers and retailers. Distribution: Wholesalers and retailers buy materials in bulk from manufacturers and then distribute them to industry professionals and end consumers via DIY stores. Installation and construction: Plumbers buy materials from distributors and use them to install plumbing systems in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Individuals can also buy directly from distributors to carry out their own work. Maintenance and repair: Plumbers offer preventive maintenance services to keep plumbing systems running smoothly. They also intervene to repair leaks, burst pipes, drainage problems and other malfunctions. Related services: Some plumbers offer additional services such as camera inspection of pipes, renovation of bathrooms and kitchens, installation of water filtration systems, etc. After-sales service: Manufacturers, distributors and plumbers may offer technical support and after-sales service for defective products or problems encountered by customers after installation.

3.2 Market structure

While there are no official statistics on the number of plumbers in Spain, the CNAE statistical code "**.* Instalaciones eléctricas, de fontanería y otras instalaciones" according to the nomenclature produced by theINE can tell us more about the sector. This CNAE code includes :

-Electrical, plumbing and HVAC installations.

Growth in the number of companies in CNAE code **.* Spain, ****-****, number Source: ****

Except for the year ****-****, there has been a steady increase in the number of companies in this CNAE code **.*. In fact, the growth in the number of companies was *.**% between **** and ****, -*.** between **** and ****, *.**% between **** and **** and *.**% between **** and ****.

Evolution of personnel employed within CNAE code **.* Spain, ****-****, in thousands of employees Source: This trend is the same for the number of employees: +*.**% between **** and ****, -*.**% between **** and ****, +*.**% between **** and **** and +*.**% between **** and ****.

With regard to company size, it should be noted that **.*% of the Spanish construction sector (***). As a result, the plumbing market is made up of a multitude of players, with strong competition. The graph below shows a more detailed breakdown of this sector:

Company structure in the Spanish construction sector Spain, ****, % of total Source: ****

Finally, the map below shows the distribution of CNAE **.* companies in ...

4.1 Offer typology

Plumbers mainly offer the following range of services:

Plumbing installation, inspection and replacement: Installation, inspection and replacement of various items such as toilets, kitchen and bathroom sinks, showers, bathtubs, faucets, water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, pipes, backflow protection systems and septic tank systems. Toilet repairs: Solving problems such as clogs, overflows and toilet malfunctions, including waste management and preventive maintenance. Leak repair: Locating and repairing leaks in pipes and fixtures, with particular attention to silent leaks and potential structural damage. Drain cleaning: Regular cleaning of drains to prevent blockages and build-up of dirt and residues. Pipe repair and replacement : Pipe leaks are repaired and replaced if necessary to prevent further structural problems. Water heater services: Installation, maintenance and repair of water heaters to ensure a reliable supply of hot water.

In addition to these services, some plumbers also offer additional services such as the installation of plumbing fixtures and fittings, water accumulators, pumps, wells and water tanks, decalcification and osmosis systems, as well as irrigation and sprinkler systems for gardens.

Source: ****

4.2 Prices

Cronoshare is a Spanish website that compares quotes from thousands of plumbing professionals throughout Spain. Thanks to their data, we can obtain the average price of various plumbing services in Spain.

In ****, the average cost of plumbing services ranged from €** to €** per hour, with an average minimum and maximum of €** and €** per hour.

Average cost of plumbing services in Spain Spain, ****, €/hour Source: ****

To these average prices we must also add the cost of plumbers' travel. Because of their work, plumbers are obliged to visit their customers. These travel costs, when invoiced, generally vary between €** and €**, even if these costs depend on each professional and the distance they have to travel.

Service prices :

The graph below shows the average minimum and maximum prices for the various services offered by plumbers:

Prices of plumbers' services Spain, ****, € Source: ****

There are also disparities between the prices charged by plumbers in the major cities. In fact, in ****, the cost of a plumber was higher in Barcelona (***).

Estimated hourly cost of hiring a plumber in Spain's * largest cities Spain, ****, €/hour Source: ****

4.3 Plumbing Services Price Index

The following graph shows the variation in the price index for plumbing services in Spain, with a base *** established in ****. Prices have been rising steadily since ****, accelerating between ****-**** and ****-**** (***). This increase is due in particular to the rise in materials prices triggered by the post-Covid economic recovery in **** and by the geopolitical consequences of the war in Ukraine. Service prices, by their very nature, tend to rise with inflation. In Spain, inflation is expected to be *.*% in ****, *.*% in **** and *.*% in ****.

Evolution of CPI code "Plumbing services Spain, ****-****, index base ***, **** Source: ****

4.4 Supply trends

In Spain, plumbing trends focus on three main areas: environmental sustainability, material resistance and design:

Environmental sustainability:

Rainwater harvesting systems are becoming increasingly popular, allowing water to be reused for gardening, cleaning and other non-potable water activities, helping to save water. Durable, environmentally-friendly plumbing materials such as PP-R (***) are gaining in popularity due to their corrosion resistance, durability and low cost.

Material resistance :

Technological advances have enabled the development of stronger, more durable materials, such as PVC, PEX and copper, to replace the old cast-iron tubing. PP-R and PEX are particularly appreciated for their resistance to pressure, corrosion and temperature changes, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Design :

Finishes and colors: Matte finishes and dark colors such as black and graphite are gaining in popularity, giving kitchen and bathroom faucets a modern, sophisticated look. Minimalism: The emergence of minimalist faucets with clean, simple lines, devoid of superfluous ornamentation. These faucets fit perfectly into any modern kitchen or bathroom design, creating an atmosphere of neatness and cleanliness. Organic and curved: Continued popularity of organic and curved faucets, which bring a sense of movement and fluidity to the space. These faucets create a relaxing and pleasant atmosphere in the kitchen ...

5.1 Regulations

The CTE :

The Technical Building Code (***). In addition to addressing fundamental requirements such as structural safety, fire prevention and environmental protection, the CTE also guarantees accessibility in accordance with the Equal Opportunities for the Disabled Act. In addition to its national function, the CTE transposes European directives promoting energy efficiency. Thus, this code defines at national level the prerequisites for building a home.

Plumbing:

Although buildings in Spain must comply with the CTE, there are no national regulations governing plumbers. Instead, regulations are issued by the Autonomous Communities.

The document opposite sets out all the regulations at Community level: Informe Regulación Fontenera.

6.1 Segmentation

The table opposite shows the sales of the ** largest companies in the sector belonging to CNAE code **.* Electrical and plumbing installations and other activities.

• Triade Electronique (Veolia)
• Carrier Refrigeration France
• Valtria
• Remica, Sa
• Agefred Slu
• Nordes Ancin, S.a.
• Cofrico Sociedad Limitada
• Socenergy Sl. (Obremo)
• Arce Clima Sistemas Y Aplicaciones Sl
• MANTENIMIENTOS E INSTALACIONES ACLIMAR SL (Aclimar)