French aggregates report from BDS
Italcementi and Bouygues are estimated to be the two largest aggregates companies in northern and mid-France, followed by Lafarge and Vinci. These four companies represent an estimated 33% of the market, according to a new report by BDS Marketing & Research Ltd.
The survey covers the Departments of Bourgogne, Centre, Champagne, Ile de France, Nord, Normandie and Picardie, an area that stretches from Calais southwards towards Lyon and includes the key Paris market.
As well as estimating the outputs of nearly 750 individual quarries, BDS also include details of reserves or end of authorization dates, where these are known. Information on outputs and reserves was obtained by contacting the individual quarries concerned, with total outputs compared with published statistics.
In sand and gravel Italcementi are thought to be the largest company in Ile de France and Picardie, while Lafarge are the largest in Normandie. Holcim are the largest in Bourgogne.
In crushed rock Carrieres du Boulonnais are the leaders in Nord, while Italcementi are the largest in Champagne.
The top 10 aggregates companies are estimated to have 53% of the market. Over 200 quarrying companies are listed in the report, between them producing around 150 million tonnes in the seven Departments in 2001.
The survey is being published for the first time and, subject to sufficient interest from the industry, BDS say they intend to cover the whole of France in the next annual survey.
