We’ve all heard the opinion banded about in the context of UK manufacturing: “We don’t make anything here any more”. But according to a recent report from Make UK, in 2021 (the most recently available data) the UK moved up to 8th place in the list of the World’s leading manufacturers by value of output, at £224bn.
Within that top ten, powerhouses China, the US, Japan and Germany remain streets ahead of the others, whilst the UK sits a shade ahead of France, and the gap between the UK and Italy (in 7th) has gradually reduced over the last 5 years.
So something must be coming out of those factories!
UK manufacturing therefore appears well-placed on the world stage for the time being. But going forward in a changing economic environment, what can help it continue to thrive?
Accrol Group Holdings plc (LON:ACRL) is the UK’s leading independent tissue converter, producing toilet tissue, kitchen towel, facial tissue and biodegradable wet wipes. The UK soft tissue market is worth £1.6bn with private label products comprising circa 50%. Accrol is the leading supplier to the private label market, which is growing at over 8% year on year.