Aggregate says that significant increases in hydrocarbon costs and cement prices will not undermine end of year results.

Aggregate Industries says it is confident of a good performance for the year to December 2004, despite significant increases in hydrocarbon costs and cement prices in the sector.

In a trading update released ahead of its end-of-year results, Aggregate said that financial performance had continued in line with market expectations, and that “2004 is set to be another year of solid progress for the Group”.

With £40-million worth of bolt-on acquisitions in the UK, and an increase in volume of sales in ready-mixed concrete, Aggregate believes it will be able to counter the negative effects of prolonged wet weather in summer, which impacted on its building materials business. The preliminary results for the year will be posted in March 2005.