COBA will be implementing a temporary pricing adjustment across selected industrial matting and flooring products due to sustained increases in raw material, freight, packaging, fuel, and utility costs throughout 2026.
Global supply chain pressures, rising polymer and rubber costs, increased shipping disruption, and higher energy prices have significantly impacted manufacturing and distribution costs across the industrial flooring and workplace safety matting sector.
Despite absorbing substantial increases across logistics, packaging, utilities, and core raw materials, current market conditions now require a temporary surcharge to maintain product quality, service reliability, and product availability for our distributors and trade partners.
Global Fuel & Freight Cost Increases
Global fuel and shipping markets continue to experience significant volatility, increasing operational and transport costs throughout the industrial flooring and matting supply chain.
Petrol Increase: 16%
Diesel Increase: 35%
Key contributing factors include:
- Supply is being kept tight by OPEC and partners, limiting output to support higher oil prices
- Geopolitical tensions around major shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, are increasing global fuel costs
- Shipping disruptions and rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope are causing vessels to consume significantly more fuel
- Global manufacturing and transport demand remains strong, maintaining pressure on fuel pricing
- Refining constraints continue limiting diesel and marine fuel production capacity
These increases continue to impact inbound freight, local transport, manufacturing operations, and product distribution across the industrial matting industry.
Source: Latest Unleaded and Diesel Price Data Across the UK
Petrol Increase: 16%
Diesel Increase: 35%
Packaging Material Cost Increases
COBA has also experienced significant increases in packaging material costs since January 2026.
Polyethylene Material Increase: 34%
Polyethylene is widely used throughout product packaging and distribution, including:
- Pallet wrap
- Polythene sheets
- Layflat tubing
- Mailing bags
- Poly bags
Additional packaging-related increases include:
- Bubble Wrap: 10%
- Pallet Strapping: 12.5%
- Cardboard packaging: 9%
Increased freight and energy costs have also contributed to approximately 20% higher operating costs for packaging suppliers.
Industrial Flooring Raw Material Increases
The industrial flooring and workplace safety matting sector continues to face sustained increases in raw material costs across multiple manufacturing inputs.
Polypropylene (PP)
Increase Since January 2026: 34%
Polypropylene is commonly used in:
- Entrance matting
- Tufted carpet backing
- Woven floor matting products
Manufacturers are seeing backing materials become more expensive than surface fibres due to rising polymer costs and supply chain pressures.
Products Affected
- Precision Nib/Loop
- Vynaplush
- Most entrance matting ranges
Nitrile Rubber
Increase Since January 2026: 15.5%
Nitrile rubber is widely used within:
- Heavy-duty industrial flooring
- Oil-resistant safety matting
- Commercial anti-fatigue matting
Continued increases in oil-related manufacturing inputs are impacting high-specification safety matting production.
Products Affected
- Fatigue Step Nitrile
- COBAdot Nitrile
- Bubblemat Nitrile
- K-Mat
Natural Rubber
Increase Since January 2026: 13.6%
Natural rubber remains a key material within:
- Anti-fatigue mats
- Entrance matting
- Commercial rubber flooring
- Gym flooring systems
Raw material costs, sulphur pricing, rubber processing oils, and associated chemical inputs have all increased significantly during 2026.
Products Affected
- Commercial Rubber
- Rampmat
- Fatigue Step
- Ringmat
PVC
Increase Since January 2026: 12%
PVC is heavily used within:
- Safety flooring
- Modular floor tiles
- Industrial anti-slip matting
Energy-intensive extrusion and manufacturing processes continue driving increased PVC production costs globally.
Products Affected
- Orthomat
- Deckplate
- Tough Lock Tiles
- Edging
- COBAmat
Aluminium
Increase Since January 2026: 45%
Aluminium pricing has risen significantly due to global energy pressures and shipping disruption affecting Gulf-region supply chains.
Products Affected
- All PLAN Mat systems
Utility & Manufacturing Cost Pressures
COBA has also experienced sustained increases in wholesale utility and manufacturing-related operating costs throughout 2026.
Current increases include:
- Electricity costs: 34%
- Utility-related operating costs: 26%
These increases continue to impact manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and overall operational expenditure across the industrial flooring sector.
Our Commitment to Customers
COBA remains committed to supporting distributors, contractors, and commercial customers with reliable product availability, high manufacturing standards, and transparent communication throughout ongoing market volatility.
While we have worked to absorb as much of these cost pressures as possible, the scale and persistence of increases across raw materials, freight, packaging, utilities, and logistics mean a temporary pricing adjustment is now necessary.
This surcharge will appear on future invoicing and will be reviewed regularly as market conditions evolve.
We will continue monitoring global supply chain conditions closely to ensure we provide the best possible pricing without compromising the quality, reliability, and service standards our customers expect from COBA.
