The Mineral Products Association of Great Britain (MPA) called on the government to give priority to British construction materials in the implementation of major public projects. The statement was made at a parliamentary reception on 30 June, where representatives of the cement industry, MPs, members of the House of Lords, ministers and officials discussed the role of cement in supporting the country’s construction plans.
According to MPA, reliable domestic cement supplies are necessary to meet the UK’s targets in housing construction, infrastructure, clean energy and transport networks. MP Henry Tufnell noted that domestic materials production is increasingly linked to national security and resilience.
Martin Casey, senior director for cement and lime at MPA, said that increased public investment in British industry could support innovation, jobs and the national economy. According to him, the UK has the raw materials and production capacity to meet domestic demand for cement.
At the same time, the industry is facing serious competitive challenges. Among the key problems, MPA highlights high energy costs and unequal conditions in carbon regulation. The cement industry is not included in the compensation scheme for energy-intensive industries, which means British producers face higher energy costs compared with foreign competitors.
According to MPA data, the total costs of the British cement sector related to climate and energy policy reached GBP 82 million (pounds sterling), compared with GBP 45 million in 2015. The association emphasises that this is happening against the background of a significant reduction in emissions: the cement and concrete industries have cut them by 63% since 1990.
MPA also supports further backing for carbon capture and storage technologies in the cement industry. According to the association’s estimate, such solutions could reduce the sector’s emissions by 75% by 2035 and cut construction emissions by up to 3.8 million tonnes of CO₂ per year.
The UK’s planned Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is another source of concern. MPA warns that, if the legislation is not strict enough, it may fail to level the playing field for British producers and importers and instead increase the risk of carbon leakage. The association points out that, after the launch of the European CBAM at the beginning of the year, cement imports into the UK from non-EU countries reached a 10-year high in March 2026.
According to Martin Casey, the British cement industry can both support the country’s construction targets and move towards decarbonisation, but this requires fair and stable conditions for long-term investment.
