The Mineral Products Association (MPA) hosted an event in Parliament on 4 November that brought together leading UK cement producers, MPs, ministers and government officials in support of the UK cement industry and highlighted the opportunity it presents. Minister for Industry Chris McDonald MP spoke in support of the sector as well as Jon Pearce MP for High Peak. 

The message was clear: we need UK cement. 

The government’s ambitions to deliver 1.5 million new homes and invest in schools, hospitals, transport links and green energy infrastructure simply cannot be realised without it. Cement is a foundation industry, supporting economic growth, providing materials security, and underpinning the UK’s transition to net zero.

But the industry is facing serious threats, including uneven carbon regulation, sky-high energy prices and a surge in imports. Importing cement risks exporting jobs, investment and emissions overseas, while leaving the UK exposed to supply chain disruption and geopolitical shocks.

Using public procurement policy to support domestically produced cement could unlock huge opportunities. It would ensure that Labour’s investment in housing and infrastructure delivers wider economic growth and allows Britain to retain control over the decarbonisation of materials it uses. 

It also protects highly skilled, well-paid jobs across all four nations. Cement is part of the wider mineral products sector, which supports over 80,000 jobs, mostly in rural communities and industrial heartlands, and is one of the UK’s most productive sectors, with each worker generating two and a half times the national average in value.

At the event, the MPA called on government to establish a robust Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), with clear guidance on how the UK rate will be calculated to ensure importers face the same carbon costs as domestic producers. The MPA also urged action to address wider competitiveness challenges such as high electricity prices and rising labour costs, which are placing UK cement producers at a growing disadvantage.

The importance of accelerating support for Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) technologies was also underlined. Having already reduced carbon emissions by 63 per cent since 1990, UK cement is a net zero success story in progress — and with the right policy support, it can go even further.

Dr Diana Casey, executive director for cement and lime at the Mineral Products Association, 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 Labour’s housing and infrastructure targets hanging in the balance.

“With the right policy framework, including a fair and robust CBAM, competitive energy pricing, and targeted support for CCUS, we can secure the UK cement sector for the long term. That means protecting high-value jobs, strengthening regional economies, and ensuring that every tonne of cement used to build Britain’s future also supports Britain’s industry and climate ambitions.”

Image:  Dr Diana Casey, Mineral Products Association, with event sponsor Jon Pearce MP