In its latest annual review of outputs in the major UK heavy buildings materials markets,
In ready-mixed concrete, Hanson, with a market share approaching 17%, is still the largest company, according to the BDS Marketing Research (BDS) review. This is a sector which includes material produced by static batching plants as well as on-site batching vehicles.
The top five companies across each of these sectors are said in the BDS annual review to comprise Tarmac, Hanson, LafargeHolcim, CEMEX and Breedon. Whilst their respective positions change from product to product, their smallest combined market share in any sector is around 64%, rising to 80% where they have their highest penetration. Breedon continue to grow in size, with further acquisitions in the last 12 months.
These companies also feature, to a greater or lesser extent, as producers in one or more concrete products markets, for which BDS reports have also recently been published. Tarmac has the leading share in the concrete building blocks market, including aggregate and aircrete blocks. LafargeHolcim and CEMEX also appear in the listing of the top 10 producers, as they do in both the concrete block paving and concrete paving slab sectors.
With the exception of the concrete block paving sector, each of the other five markets are said by BDS to have experienced growth in 2016 against the previous year. This ranged from a 2% increase in the concrete paving sector, to growth of 9% for concrete blocks.
BDS market reports represent the only independent source of information on the outputs and shares of all heavy buildings materials’ sites and companies in Great Britain.
Each report provides estimated outputs at individual site level, with volumes and market shares shown at county, regional and national level. Aside from the five major producers, there are significant numbers of sites and producing companies in each sector, many with a strong regional or local presence.
Details of planning activity for extensions and new facilities, which is supporting existing and proposed growth across the industry, is provided.
Each report also contains an economy-wide construction forecast for the next four years, along with a product-specific forecast. BDS expect each sector to continue to grow through to the end of the century, with demand underpinned by increased housing construction and the delivery of the UK Government’s infrastructure programme.
