Cement is the essential ingredient in concrete, which is the world's second most consumed substance after water. Portland cement is a local product made in Britain and even invented here. No school, house, road, hospital or bridge could be built without it.
The cement industry contributes nearly a billion pounds annually to the UK economy. It operates 10 manufacturing and two grinding and blending plants and produces around ten million tonnes of Portland cement a year, representing about 78% of the cement sold in the UK, with the rest being made up from imports.
MPA Cement is the trade association representing the six major UK Portland cement manufacturers, namely: Breedon Cement (A Breedon Group company), CEMCOR, CEMEX UK, Heidelberg Materials UK, Lafarge Cement and Tarmac and an affiliate member producing Calcium Aluminate Cement; Imerys.