MPA urges gov’t to back UK cement or risk missing building targets

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has warned that the UK government must support domestic cement production or risk falling short of its housing and infrastructure targets.

Speaking at a parliamentary event attended by Minister for Industry Chris McDonald MP, Jon Pearce MP for High Peak, and industry leaders, the MPA called for urgent action to create a level playing field for British cement manufacturers facing uneven carbon taxation, high energy costs and rising import pressures.

The event underscored cement’s critical role in delivering 1.5 million new homes and major investments in schools, hospitals, transport links and green energy infrastructure. The MPA warned that increasing imports not only exports jobs and emissions overseas, but also undermines the UK’s materials security and resilience to supply chain shocks.

The association urged the government to implement a robust Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to ensure importers face the same carbon costs as UK producers, accelerate support for carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) technologies, and use public procurement to prioritise domestically produced, low-carbon cement.

Dr Diana Casey, executive director for cement and lime at the MPA, said: “The government has called for a national effort to build, but questions remain over whether we have the materials security to deliver it. Without a level playing field, we risk undermining one of the UK’s most strategically important manufacturing sectors and leaving housing and infrastructure targets hanging in the balance.”

She added that UK cement has already cut emissions by 63% since 1990, proving the industry’s commitment to net zero, but that further progress depends on “a fair and competitive policy framework.”

The MPA represents the aggregates, cement, concrete, and asphalt industries, which together employ over 80,000 people and contribute £22 billion annually to the UK economy. The association said that decisive policy action now would protect high-value jobs, support regional economies, and ensure every tonne of cement used to build Britain’s future “also supports Britain’s industry and climate ambitions.”

Further information is available at mpa-cement.uk and thisisukconcrete.co.uk.

Main image caption:
The MPA’s parliamentary event brought together MPs, ministers, and UK cement producers to highlight the sector’s role in meeting housing and infrastructure targets.