Building materials company Readymix said it widened its pretax trading loss to €4.2 million for the first quarter of 2011.

The company said revenues were down 27 per cent compared to the same quarter a year earlier, as volumes fell across its products.

"In an exceptionally competitive market, prices across a number of our key product lines also continue to come under increasing pressure," Readymix said in a statement today.

The firm said it expects revenues to continue to fall throughout the year as volumes continue to be poor and prices come under pressure.

Readymix has seen a substantial fall in its activities as a result of the prolonged recession in construction market.