UK: Breedon Group recorded sales of Euro798m in the first half of 2022, up by 12% year-on-year from Euro714m in the first half of 2021. Its earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) increased by 22% to Euro77.9m from Euro63.9m, while its profit after tax increased by 29% to Euro70.7m from Euro54.9m.

The group said “We are optimistic for the remainder of 2022. Our customers’ order books are healthy, the mechanism for passing through cost increases has traction and enquiry levels are encouraging. We therefore expect to deliver underlying EBIT at the top end of the range of consensus expectations.”

Chief executive officer Rob Wood said “We enjoyed a strong start to 2022. Our teams are focused on getting pricing right, our end market exposure is supportive and that has produced excellent results, advancing our margins and returns towards our medium term targets. We completed two in-fill transactions during July 2022, with further mergers and acquisitions activity in the pipeline, and we have continued to progress on a broad range of sustainability initiatives, including a commitment to the Science Based Targets Initiative.”