11th Aug 2026 12:20
(Alliance News) - Breedon Group PLC on Tuesday said further action is needed to ensure a "level playing field" for UK cement producers, as it continued its campaign for greater government support for domestic production.
The Derby-based construction materials group welcomed the prime minister's recent comments on supporting British industry and the chancellor's call for "Buying British by design".
Breedon launched its Back British Cement campaign in January, calling for urgent action to secure the future of domestic cement production. It supplies around two million tonnes of cement annually from its UK & Irish operations and supports more than 4,000 jobs across Britain, it said.
UK cement production is now at its lowest level since 1950, Breedon said. Domestic producers face structurally uncompetitive industrial electricity costs and uneven carbon regulations compared with foreign importers, which now account for more than a third of UK cement sales.
Discussions with the government, including the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, Department for Business & Trade and HM Treasury, are ongoing, the company said.
Breedon said further clarification and progress are needed in five areas. These include strengthening the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism ahead of its implementation in January 2027 and ensuring imported cement faces equivalent carbon costs to UK producers. Breedon also called for continued alignment between UK & EU carbon pricing to reduce trade friction.
The company wants cement included in industrial electricity compensation schemes to address high power costs. It also called for cement and concrete to be recognised as strategic materials in government procurement, supporting UK jobs, skills and supply chains.
Breedon further called for faster support for carbon capture, fuel switching and other low-carbon technologies to help domestic cement producers decarbonise while remaining competitive.
Chief Executive Rob Wood said: "Our Back British cement campaign advocates for a level playing field for the domestic cement industry, including effective carbon border measures, to support UK construction, economic growth and national resilience.
"We believe domestic cement producers should be allowed to compete fairly with overseas manufacturers, who do not face the same high energy prices and carbon taxes."
Shares in Breedon fell 0.9% to 345.80 pence per share early on Tuesday afternoon in London.
By Niall Holden, Alliance News reporter
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