• The president of the Ciment Català employers’ association recalls that, in parallel, the sector is facing significant investment to comply with the Roadmap for decarbonization by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050
  • Competitively priced energy, circular economy, green public procurement regulations, taxation oriented towards decarbonization, and simplification of administrative procedures: the industry’s objectives for 2026

The Catalan cement industry closed the 2025 financial year in the context of a flat and stable market, alongside a firm commitment to the decarbonization of the sector.

This situation gives rise to a scenario full of contrasts. On the one hand, cement consumption in Catalonia remained below 2.5 million tons for 14 consecutive years, a very low volume in relation to the population, placing per capita consumption at around 300 kg per inhabitant per year, 30% below the European Union average. In absolute terms, this level of consumption is practically the same as 60 years ago. Over this period, the population has more than doubled, making this level of consumption clearly insufficient for a modern and developed country such as Catalonia.

To this situation must be added the fact that Catalan cement manufacturing companies are fully committed to making a major financial effort to meet, in the short term, the carbon emissions reduction targets imposed by the European Union for 2030, as well as the challenge of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This commitment to environmental protection entails investments of more than €800 million in Catalan plants over the coming years. It also places significant pressure on the entire sector, as in addition to the stagnation of the domestic market, it is occurring in the context of declining exports, which have fallen by 18% over the past year.

The president of the Ciment Català employers’ association, Salvador Fernández Capo, in his analysis of the situation and the industry’s objectives for 2026, argues that it is necessary to increase collaboration with public administrations in order to achieve these ambitious climate goals: “a large part of the revenues derived from taxation associated with CO₂ emissions should be allocated to helping the industry decarbonise, as well as securing explicit support from the Catalan administration and, especially, from the central government to obtain European funds (Innovation Funds) that make decarbonization projects at Catalan cement plants viable.” In this regard, he stresses that access to infrastructure is essential, calling for the rapid development of networks for CO₂ transport and storage and for “guaranteeing access to renewable energy at competitive prices.”

Fernández Capo also calls on public authorities to help promote the market for sustainable products by establishing “effective green public procurement regulations and strategies that encourage the use of low-carbon materials in construction.” In line with environmental commitment, he also appeals for the promotion of the circular economy to minimize waste sent to landfills and to facilitate its recovery and use in cement plants. In outlining the sector’s needs, he also warns that “a decisive simplification and streamlining of administrative procedures in permit processing is required, especially for decarbonization projects, along with environmental taxation aligned with these objectives.”