Once again, the Catalan market has experienced the Easter effect, which according to the calendar increases or decreases the use of cement. April has closed with the first monthly drop since July 2016. A register that contrasts with the fact that in March the best result in cement consumption in Catalonia was established since October 2012. The provisional data collected among the Companies associated in Ciment Català show a decrease of 4.4%, which reduces to 11.5% the growth of the domestic market in the last 12 months.
The situation of the Catalan manufacturers is determined by the scarce activity of the public works. Despite the latest announcements, public administrations keep infrastructural construction and maintenance projects to a minimum. Although there are signs of improvement in the residential building, the lack of investments of the different governmental institutions keeps demand very slow.
And, as in recent years, sales in foreign markets are the driving force behind the activity of Catalan factories. Despite the slight drop in April, the volume of exports remains stable at around 2.5 million tons per year, almost 50% higher than the total consumption of cement in Catalonia, which was 1.7 million tons in the last twelve months.