Report MPA numbers
New figures from the Mineral Products Association (MPA), based on the actual market sales throughout the Great Britain in the last quarter, found that asphalt volumes have been the lowest in the last four quarters and that concrete volumes were last seen in 1963 at deepest feelings.
The news is not good for the 1.5m new houses from Labor, which is increasingly overlooked.
Agregates and mortar sales also fell in the second quarter of 2025
In Q2 2025, the finished concrete volumes fell by 11.5% to only 2.7 m cubic meters (mm³). In the last four quarters (Q3 2024 to Q2 2025), total sales were 11.9 mm³. The last time that the annual concrete volume of Great Britain was so low was 1963.
Volumina over all important mineral products as a mortar are now historically low and pursue among the already weak volumes of the past year.
Bad concrete sales will have a negative impact on cement sales, the MPA warns
The reduction in sales of the concrete will affect the cement sale that is not covered by this data, but will be reported separately. The latest sentence of cement data for 2023 showed weak sales, but with unprecedented proportion of imports to 32% of the British market of weak sales, but clearly near recorders.
According to MPA, this is largely due to high electricity prices, high labor costs and a stressful regulatory environment.
The trust in the entire sector was already low, but has evaporated in response to this pressure
The manufacturers refer to a chronic lack of new large and small infrastructure projects, which are hindered by slow, delayed or postponed investment decisions, cost pressure and sluggish regulatory processes.
The HS2 reset will negatively negatively influence demand this year, while the delivery of the streets will continue to be plagued by uncertainties. The cancellation of the A12 Chelmsford in July on the A120 expansion and the A47 Wansford Sutton programs followed five further project cancellations in the budget of the past year in order to further damage trust in the infrastructure tax.
MPA members continue to report weak activities in housing construction, especially in London and other major cities. While lower interest rates have facilitated the mortgage costs, the persistent afflection pressure, high inflation and growing order uncertainty, the buyer's trust continues to burden. The mortar turnover, which is closely connected to the building in the early stages, sank by 2.7% in the second quarter and ended four consecutive growth quarters. Delays in the construction security regulatory authority with the new Gateway 2 approval process delay the development of high -rise buildings.
Aurelie Delannoy said: “The data of this quarter remind a strong memory that the market conditions for the mineral product sector are incredibly difficult. A fourth year in a row of falling sales is now a serious risk, including jobs.
Table 1. MPA sales volumina in GB: Change in the previous period on the concrete market (seasonally set)
| asphalt | Prepared concrete | Crushed rock | Sand & gravel | mortar | |
| 2022 | -6.4% | -3.7% | -7.7% | -9.2% | 3.5% |
| 2023 | -6.9% | -6.5% | -4.2% | -7.2% | -15.0% |
| 2024 | -2.5% | -10.9% | -0.4% | -7.9% | -15.0% |
| 2024 Q3 | -1.6% | 0.9% | -1.0% | 3.5% | 2.1% |
| 2024 Q4 | 0.2% | 5.4% | 0.1% | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| 2025 Q1 | -6.2% | -5.1% | -1.5% | 5.9% | 3.8% |
| 2025 Q2 | 5.8% | -11.5% | -1.3% | -11.7% | -2.7% |
“What we see is not just the challenge of a certain industry market. It is a broader signal for a British building sector and an economy that is in the first equipment and is hindered by weak self -confidence, spotty project delivery and a chronic lack of tangible demand. Despite the positive long -term announcements by the government, companies are still waiting for all concrete signs that the United Kingdom in Great Britain can invest again and build again. “
The MPA calls on the government to take priority measures immediately, e.g. B.:
- Exclude further tax increases in the business to dampen fears
- A stronger focus on the submission of infrastructures, not only long -term strategic ambition
- Increasing planning capacity
- A significant improvement in performance in the building security controller, including a rapid resolution of Gateway 2 delays
- The supervisory authorities urge to focus on growth
- Reintroduction of superabduction to support business investments
- Make sure that public procurement for infrastructure supports domestic care
- Incentive for housing construction
- Long -term provision of bankable engagement for CCUs
- Provide a robust mechanism for setting carbon boundaries
“The underlying problem is a total lack of business confidence”
Chris Leese, Executive Chair MPA, added: “Many of our members tell us that the current trade conditions are the most difficult they have ever experienced, including the financial crisis 2007/08, while the data in concrete show that they are the worst in a life and are not signs of recovery.
“The underlying problem is an unreserved lack of business trust that leads to a lack of investments to kick the activities. The mineral product industry literally offers the basics for the entire economy and sets 80,000 hard-working people in high-quality, highly productive jobs across the country, but in the current climate our members have no other option than the capacity of mothball and the rationalization of the capacity and in the capacity Rationalization of capacity and in rationalizing capacity.
“The construction work is an essential force for the growth of the British economy. These sales figures are a clear indicator that measures are necessary. We now need measures to unlock blocked projects, the companies that build them up and break out of this cycle of weak growth and high costs. Our members are not only ready to deliver.