News

02 May 2018

Weak Construction and Cold Weather Drive Demand for Mineral Products down in the First Quarter of 2018

Following some improvement in demand towards the end of 2017, mineral products markets started the year slowly, hit by weak construction activity and the impact of the particularly cold weather. Sales volumes for asphalt and aggregates fell by 4.8% and 4.9% respectively in 2018Q1 compared to the previous quarter, and ready-mixed concrete (RMC) by 7.7%. Mortar sales, which last year received a significant boost from new housebuilding, also contracted by 3.8% in 2018Q1, the biggest quarterly fall since early 2013.

01 May 2018

Industry to launch UK Minerals Strategy at 'Living with Minerals 6'

The UK Minerals Strategy, which sets out an agenda for industry, government and others to drive sustainable supply of minerals for the next generation, will be launched and published at the 'Living with Minerals 6' (LWM6) conference organised by the CBI Minerals Group and Mineral Products Association (MPA) on 10 July at Church House in Westminster.

05 Apr 2018

MPA welcomes Government's Decision to align future Regulation of Volumetric Concrete Mixers with HGVs

Transport Minister Jesse Norman MP has made a further announcement to finalise the future regulation of volumetric concrete mixers. MPA has been seeking equivalent regulation of volumetric concrete mixers and HGVs and welcomes the latest decision which means that regulations for volumetric concrete mixers and other HGVs will converge, starting in September 2018.

28 Mar 2018

MPA Welcomes London Mayor's Commitment to Rail and Water Freight

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has welcomed the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy for London, including positive references to rail and water freight.

22 Mar 2018

MPA Welcomes Further Clarity on London HGV Direct Vision Requirements

MPA welcomes the announcement of Transport for London (TfL) that critical information identifying the direct vision safety classification of HGVs is now available.

21 Mar 2018

MPA Cement Sustainable Development Report 2017 Showcases Air Quality Improvements and Calls for Government Action to remove Market Distortion in the Use of Biomass Fuels

MPA Cement has published its 2017 annual sustainable development report highlighting the UK cement industry's efforts to tackle air quality and progress on greenhouse gas reduction. Air quality is currently high on the Government agenda and MPA Cement members have made major investments in recent years to reduce emissions to air so that levels of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and sulphur dioxide are now 84%, 86% and 82% lower than in 1998 respectively.

07 Mar 2018

MPA Highlights the Missing Link in Proposed New Housing Policy

Representing the mineral products and quarrying industry, the largest supplier to the construction industry and housing sector, the MPA has continually pressed the Government to ensure that planning for the housing supply chain is recognised as an essential element of delivering the housing we need.

07 Mar 2018

MPA warns that the proposed NPPF will further weaken the mineral planning system

The proposed draft revision of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will further weaken the mineral planning system and further threaten the replenishment of aggregate and other mineral reserves which are the largest material supply in the economy and essential for the delivery of housebuilding and infrastructure.

28 Feb 2018

MPA Sets out Proposals for a New Aggregates Levy Community Fund (ALCF) in England

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has set out proposals for a new Aggregates Levy Community Fund (ALCF) to be introduced in England in April 2020.

07 Feb 2018

ONS Data Overestimating Construction Demand for 2017 as Mineral Products Stay Flat

Growth in mineral products sales in Great Britain (GB) ground to a halt in 2017 across all major markets, except for mortar. This is particularly significant for materials such as aggregates and ready-mixed concrete (RMC) which are the largest elements of the construction supply chain, ubiquitous to all types of construction work, and which are not usually stocked for future use on project sites. This means that the Mineral Products Association (MPA) Sales Volumes Survey, which represents between 70%-95% of the total GB market for these materials, can be used as a reliable and straightforward indicator of ongoing construction activity.