SIG, a big UK company which distributes construction products, says its sales in the first half of the year grew in all countries in which it operates - with the exception of Ireland.
SIG owns a number of insulation and interiors businesses including Capco.
It says sales in Ireland in the first six months fell by more than 17% on the same period last year.
SIG says the house building sector in the UK and Ireland has been weak for some time, while demand for house repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) products is also substantially lower.
