In response to the demands of a changing market, Aggregate Industries' Cement business has announced the second in a series of planned import operation investments - with expansion into a major new cement storage facility for deep-sea shipping lines at the Port of Southampton.
As part of a 20-year agreement, Aggregate Industries will be working with port owner Associated British Ports and industry-leading cargo handler Solent Stevedores, who will be operating the new substantial cement import facility.
This latest investment will help the business maintain a continuous supply of lower carbon cementitious solutions throughout the South and South West of England, and together with the expansion of storage capacities and enhanced infrastructure, the Port will be able to accommodate larger vessels and improve overall transport efficiencies.
It constitutes an important first step in the cement leader’s ambitious strategy to transition to deep sea terminals, with a number of further import network improvements planned and due to be announced over the coming years.
With each import investment strategically chosen to support the firm’s regional logistics infrastructure, this growth in distribution capability will help Aggregate Industries to offer best-in-class service to local customers – with minimal lorry miles from terminals to sites – for the ultimate in sustainable, agile, secure supply.
Matt Owen, head of Supply Chain at Aggregate Industries Cement Division, commented: “This is a significant project for us. It constitutes the first stage in a wider programme of planned investments over the short to medium term in deep sea imports designed to enable us to serve growing demand.
“The Southern construction market remains buoyant with lots of major projects in the pipeline this year and beyond. Constituting one of the few deep-sea vessel facilities of its kind in the region, this facility will enable us to remain primed and ready to meet our customers’ rising demand for lower carbon solutions.”
“Our investment in this Port is indicative of the key role freight is playing in helping us to build resilience and surety of supply for customers, so we can always respond in an agile way to customer demand.”
Clive Thomas, commercial director at Solent Stevedores, said: “Welcoming Aggregate Industries to the port with this long-term contract will facilitate a significant upgrade in the facilities and increase the range of products Team Solent handles through the Bulks terminal.”
Harry Eves, ABP Southampton commercial manager, said: “We are delighted to invest in this development project, which will convert an existing building into a state-of-the-art cement terminal, enabling Aggregate Industries to import sustainable cement into the UK. The facility and the cargo are a first for Southampton and provide a great addition to bulk operations in the Port.”
