Cement consumption in Spain’s Andalucía fell by 11.6% to 141 314 t in April 2014. On an accumulated basis, cement consumption in the region contracted by 6.7% over the 12 months to April.
Meanwhile, cement consumption was down by 15% y/y to 108 191 t in Cataluña. Consumption in January – April 2014 also suffered a decline of 15% y/y. However, production increased by 45.6% in Cataluña in April, as cement and clinker exports improved by 44% y/y.
As a point of comparison, figures released by Oficemen indicate that cement consumption declined by 5.6% y/y in Spain in April, and by 3.4% y/y in the first four months of 2014.
Adverse weather has affected the US economy’s growth path but the PCA is confident of 7.9% growth in cement consumption this year, rising to 10% next year.