Top five aggregate firms lose market share

The top five aggregate companies now have a 69% share of the market, compared to 70.4% the previous year, the latest report from BDS Marketing & Research has revealed.

The annual report, 'Estimated outputs of pits, quarries and marine wharves in Great Britain', lists all operating sites in the country and shows estimated volumes by company and individual location. Market shares are then calculated for each company on a county, regional and national basis.

Despite closing three quarries over the past year, the Tarmac Group is thought to have increased its share of the UK aggregates market over the last 12 months. One pit has been acquired, while Tarmac has been able to develop volumes at several existing sites.

Hanson is the second largest quarrying company, with a market share similar to last year, while RMC, the third largest company, has recently lost market share, BDS believes.

"RMC's acquisition of an independent sand and gravel business in Lincolnshire has not totally compensated for the closure of six other operations," said BDS.

Recent acquisitions made by Aggregate Industries were already incorporated in last year's report published by BDS, and as a result, the market share of Aggregate Industries is thought to be similar to the previous year.

The share of Lafarge is similar to last year. Four sand and gravel pits have closed, while a new operation has started.

The report took four months to complete and is the only published source of information available on volumes.