Cement consumption in Catalonia in the month of April registered a fall of 11.6%, standing at only 169 thousand tons. The variations that are taking place during 2023 in the market, with alternating growth and reductions, are caused by distorting and extraordinary causes, such as the lack of execution of the infrastructures and buildings tendered, or the effects of the end of the strike of carriers of the last year, which caused a strong rebound in sales in April 2022.
Either due to the lack of diligence of the different administrations, due to the deserted competitions or the stoppage of the projects due to the increase in costs, public construction activity continues at very low levels. This entails a contraction of the cement market, which remains at levels of almost 60 years ago.
The president of the Ciment Català employers’ association, Salvador Fernández Capo, warns that “this paralysis in the construction and maintenance of public facilities seriously harms citizens. It is only necessary to remember the recent examples of the problems that have occurred in the Rodalies network or the collapse of the motorways, without forgetting the effects derived from the lack of infrastructural solutions caused by the drought”.
On the other hand, the large increase in cement and clinker exports in April have generated growth in the last twelve months of 15.6%, standing at 1.97 million tons.