Rise in cement consumption in Cataluña in 1Q15

Cataluña’s cement association, Ciment Català, has released the latest figures for the region’s cement market. In March 2015, cement consumption increased by 12.5% y/y to 129 468 t, and consumption volumes in 1Q15 were 8.1% higher than in 1Q14, rising to 343 577 t. Both of these echo results on a national level in Spain, which saw consumption grow by 12.3% y/y in March and by 8.5% y/y in the first three months of 2015. However, according to figures published by Oficemen, cement consumption in Spain improved by 2.9% y/y in the 12 months to March 2015, whereas in Cataluña it declined by 6.1% y/y.

Production of cement in Cataluña fell across the three periods, down by 6.8% y/y in March, by 17.2% y/y in 1Q15, and by 0.7% y/y in the 12 months to March 2015.

Export volumes of cement and clinker totalled approximately 2.56 million t in the 12 months to March, up 23.4% y/y. However, exports contracted by 34.8% y/y to 206 001 t in March and dropped by 33.2% y/y to 570 743 t in 1Q15.

Adapted from press release by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/17042015/cataluna-spain-rise-in-cement-consumption-march-2015-702/