Cement consumption fell by 13.6% in Cataluña in 1Q14

According to preliminary estimates from Cataluña’s cement Association, Ciment Català, cement consumption fell by 13.6% in 1Q14. This decline compares to a 2.2% drop in domestic consumption levels throughout Spain. In March alone however, cement consumption increased by 9.8% y/y to 118 036 t in Cataluña. This is in line with a countrywide y/y improvement in March, which has been attributed to more favourable conditions when compared with March 2013. Companies associated with Ciment Català produced some 239 079 t of cement in March, up 35.7% y/y. On an accumulated basis, over the last 12 months production dropped by 16.2% y/y and consumption declined by 16.1% y/y.

The association estimates that exports of cement and clinker increased by 7.8% y/y over the last 12 months, while rising by a staggering 219.6% to 315 809 t in March 2014. As has been noted previously, the cement industry in countries hit particularly badly by the economic downturn, such as Spain, Greece and Portugal, have been increasing their focus on export markets in a bid to offset the decline in domestic demand.

The Port of Barcelona, in the capital of Cataluña, recently announced that the transport of cement grew by 81.5% in 1Q14. The port handled 10.7 million t of goods during the period, up 9% y/y. This includes a rise in both the transport of solid products in bulk (+17%) and container exports (+3%), an encouraging sign for the region’s industrial sectors.

Edited from various sources by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/25042014/ciment_catal%C3%A0_estimates_reveal_drop_in_consumption_in_1q14_76/