Cataluña: cement consumption 84% lower than pre-crisis high

Cataluña’s cement association, Ciment Català, has announced that cement consumption in the region came in at 88 804 t in August 2014. This is down 17% on August 2013 and is one of the lowest figures recorded in over 50 years. When compared to pre-crisis levels in 2007, when consumption reached a high point, the decline appears even more significant – cement consumption in August 2014 was 84% lower than in August 2007. On an accumulated basis, consumption dropped by 15.8% y/y in the first eight months of 2014.

The region’s consumption levels are falling behind that of the country as a whole. In August, domestic consumption in Spain dropped by 3% y/y to 819 249 t, and by 2% y/y to 7.1 million t in January – August 2014. The cement sector in Cataluña represented just 12.68% of the country’s market in August 2014, compared to 14.45% in the same month last year.

However, exports are helping Cataluña to mitigate weak local demand. Exports of cement and clinker improved by 105.9% y/y in the first eight months of 2014 (to 1.97 million t) and by 131.9% y/y (to 229 946 t) in August alone. As a result, production increased by 0.9% y/y to 158 751 t in August and by 24.7% y/y in January – August.

Meanwhile, in Andalucía, cement consumption reportedly fell by 7.3% y/y in August to 134 179 t. According to local press, consumption in January – August 2014 totalled 1.18 million t, down 0.9% y/y.

Edited from various sources by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/18092014/cement-consumption-in-cataluna-continues-to-fall-504/