UK ceramics firms fork out an estimated £875,000,000 a year in energy costs, Labour conference will hear today.
The figure has shot up by more than £330,000,000 since 2020.
Analysis by Nottingham Trent University suggests UK ceramics firms spend 70 per cent of turnover on energy costs, and 14 per cent on Government and regulatory levies.
Turnover of UK ceramics firms is around £1.25 billion, suggesting energy costs could be an enormous £875,000,000, with levies up to £150,000,000.
Analysis of historic energy prices suggest in 2020 energy costs made up just 55 per cent of turnover for UK ceramics firms – giving the figure of 544,509,381.
Meanwhile the equivalent Chinese or US ceramics manufacturer, using the same amount of electricity, would be paying approximately the same as what UK businesses were paying five years ago, and around 50 per cent less than they do at the moment.
GMB will today demand greater support for manufacturers and measures to lower energy prices at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Sharon Yates, Ceramics workers, will tell Labour conference:
“I’m a proud Pottery worker. Just like my Dad before me.
“The most highly-skilled Potters make ceramics in my town and we export them around the globe.
“But the industry we rely on is dying.
“Spiralling energy prices – especially gas – mean that UK ceramic firms fork out 875 million pounds in energy costs each year.
“That’s right – almost a billion pounds just on energy costs.
“All while counterfeit products from China have flooded the market, driving down demand for the goods we make.
“The results are devastating.
“The government has helped our industry with electricity costs - but we rely on gas.
“If we do not help industries like ceramics with energy costs now - and invest in their cleaner future - we will keep losing decent, unionised jobs.
“And when those jobs go, our communities go with them.”
