Ibstock plc announced earnings guidance for the six months ended 30 June 2018. The Group's adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended 30 June 2018 is expected to be circa £58 million, subject to finalisation of auditor review. The results reflect a weather impacted start to the year and higher energy costs, as announced in the trading update given at May's AGM. Reported EBITDA will be circa £66 million which includes the previously announced sale of surplus property. The Group's UK brick factories have been producing at, or close to, full production capacity for an extended period. In recent months however, particularly in July, production has been lower than expected and despite corrective measures output, and therefore cost recovery, in the second half of the year is now anticipated to be below expectations. A twelve month period of increased maintenance activity is now planned to ensure the factories can operate at sustainable levels to meet continued increasing demand. As a result Ibstock now expects that adjusted EBITDA for the year ended 31 December 2018 will be in the range of £121 million to £125 million with reported EBITDA in the range £130 million to £134 million.