Spanish cement consumption failing to recover

Despite a slight growth of 0.6% in November, with a total of 1 008 191 t, 5548 t more than the same period in 2015, Oficemen forecasts a 3% drop for the year total.

"The electricity price has risen more than 80% from April to October and leaves us at the edge of the abyss in the international markets," explains the CEO of Oficemen, Aniceto Zaragoza. "In a context where the recovery of domestic consumption does not seem feasible, given the forecasts of public works, and exports put at risk by a profitability almost nonexistent due to the rising cost of energy, the viability of our factories becomes increasingly complicated," he adds.

"The Spanish cement industry currently faces an extra cost in the electricity price of around 30% compared to countries like Germany or France, and also, it does so in an unsustainable scenario, with absent measures to encourage our competitiveness," said Zaragoza.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/16122016/spanish-cement-consumption-failing-to-recover/