According to Oficemen, cement consumption in Spain fell by 20.4% y/y to 1.03 million t in May. Production volumes also declined, dropping from 1.39 million t in May 2012 to 1.21 million t in May of this year. Accumulated figures for January – May 2013 did not fare any better. Consumption was down 24.4% y/y and cement production decreased by 23.2% y/y during the period.
Cement sales also fell on a regional level. In Catalonia, consumption declined by 23.1% y/y in May to 144 444 t, while exports fell by 60.9% y/y. In the first five months of the year, consumption in Andalucía fell 22.6% y/y, while in May alone consumption was down 14.3% y/y to 183 672 t.
Edited from various sources by Louise Fordham.