Fastest Declining Industries in United Kingdom by Revenue Growth (%) in 2026

• 1. Organic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK

  2026 Revenue Growth: -14.8%

  The UK organic basic chemicals sector is in decline, driven by high-profile closures and continued energy market volatility. Major shutdowns like SABIC’s Wilton cracker plant and reduced output at Grangemouth have slashed local production, making the industry more dependent on imports and raising questions about the UK’s global competitiveness. Demand is also shifting as downstream customers, especially plastics producers, face policy moves against fossil-based products and greater oil price ...

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• 2. Dye & Pigment Manufacturing in the UK

  2026 Revenue Growth: -12.4%

  The UK dye and pigment manufacturing industry is undergoing significant structural change, shaped most dramatically by the closure of former top manufacturer Venator’s pigment plants in October 2025 as price competition and oversupply from China slash profitability. This event has cut domestic titanium dioxide capacity, deepening the downstream markets’ reliance on imports at a time when global oversupply and aggressive Chinese exports have kept titanium dioxide prices under sustained pressur...

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• 3. Gas Supply in the UK

  2026 Revenue Growth: -7.9%

  The gas supply industry has experienced a period of significant volatility in recent years. Industry regulator Ofgem encouraged greater competition in the industry prior to the pandemic, leading to a rapid rise in the market share of independent suppliers. This culminated in the effective break-up of the former Big Six energy suppliers in January 2020, following OVO Energy's acquisition of SSE's domestic customer book. However, record-high wholesale prices have reversed the upward trend in ma...

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• 4. Sugar Production in the UK

  2026 Revenue Growth: -7.6%

  The UK Sugar Production industry is dominated by just three major companies: British Sugar, T&L Sugars and Ragus. This concentration allows them to exert significant control over production but also requires strategic navigation of challenges to maintain market stability and competitiveness. The industry's close ties to farming significantly influence its performance, prompting substantial investments in sustainability to ensure long-term viability. Producers are also grappling with risin...

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• 5. Steel Drum & Similar Container Manufacturing in the UK

  2026 Revenue Growth: -7.2%

  Over the five years through 2025-26, revenue is anticipated to climb at a compound annual rate of 1.8%. Revenue is expected to drop by 9.6% in 2025-26 to £189.8 million. The UK steel drum and other container manufacturing industry is experiencing a challenging environment created by fluctuating steel prices, declining orders from manufacturers and intensifying competition from imports and alternative materials. Fluctuating steel prices have affected revenue, as they feed through to the prices...

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• 6. Other Non-Ferrous Metal Production in the UK

  2026 Revenue Growth: -6.9%

  The Other Non-Ferrous Metal Production industry's revenue is expected to hike at a compound annual rate of 4.2% over the five years through 2024-25 to £2.2 billion. Owing mostly to soaring non-ferrous metal price inflation in 2022-23 due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Since Russia and (to a lesser degree) Ukraine are both major exporters of ores containing nickel, titanium and other non-ferrous metals, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has significantly disrupted the global market for these metals...

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• 7. Workwear Manufacturing in the UK

  2026 Revenue Growth: -6.6%

  The workwear manufacturing industry produces industrial and occupational garments for a diverse range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, and service sectors. Over the five years through 2025-26, revenue is expected to expand at a compound annual rate of 4.5% to £386 million. This is partly due to a sharp revenue increase seen after the pandemic, when operations for customers and manufacturers were able to resume, causing demand and output to soar. Additionally, the rapid in...

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• 8. Glue & Adhesives Manufacturing in the UK

  2026 Revenue Growth: -6.5%

  The UK glue and adhesive manufacturing industry has navigated a turbulent landscape over the past five years, shaped by input cost volatility, shifting downstream markets and heightened import competition. A surge in global energy prices in 2021-22 squeezed profit margins, as raw material costs rose to levels that producers could not readily pass on to customers. While sectors such as construction, repairs, and packaging have provided steady demand, allowing manufacturers to maintain stable o...

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• 9. Iron & Steel Manufacturing in the UK

  2026 Revenue Growth: -6.1%

  Over the five years through 2025-26, iron and steel manufacturing revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual rate of 1.9% to £7.7 billion. Heaps of cheap steel on the global market have undercut British prices and caused big trade partners like the EU to institute import quotas. Unable to lower prices because of high labour costs and environmental charges, industry giants like British Steel and Tata Steel have stated a need for government intervention to continue operating. Both compan...

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• 10. Hard Coal Mining in the UK

  2026 Revenue Growth: -6.0%

  Over the five years through 2025-26, hard coal mining revenue is forecast to sink at a compound annual rate of 14.4% to £47.2 million, including a substantial fall in revenue in 2024-25 due to Merthyr (South Wales) stopping trading as it finished selling its coal reserves in 2023-24. Leaving Energybuild as the only large-scale coal mine in the UK. This follows the long-term decline of the industry, caused by falling sales and weak profitability, which has slashed the number of UK coal mines o...

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