Building materials company's trading statement reports that overall profits were expected to be up on last year, with US divisions doing particularly well.

Building materials company Hanson is expecting a 10% rise in profits on last year.

The company's trading statement, which has been released in advance of the announcement of its interim results in August, reported that overall profits were expected to be up on last year with the US divisions of the company doing particularly well. Hanson Aggregates North America and Hanson Building Products North America are both expected to deliver an increase in first half operating product compared with last year.

But UK profits were predicted to be down on figures from the first half of 2005. Hanson Aggregates UK's operating profit is expected to be lower than it was last year due to weak market demand and cost increases within the market.

Hanson Building Products UK has also suffered. Due to a severe reduction in the brick market led by weak demand, first half brick volumes are expected to be down 20 per cent on last year's figures.

Trading is expected to remain stable in Australia, Asia Pacific and continental Europe.