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/
