The domestic market only consumes half of the cement produced in Catalonia

The latest provisional data from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism confirm the negative trend in the activity indices of the cement industry when the first year under the effects of the pandemic. Consumption fell another 4% in February, placing the interannual rate down 10.2% (1.99 million tons). This means that only 1 of every 2 tons of cement produced in Catalonia is sold on the Catalan market: the other half of the production has been destined for exports in the last 12 months (1.99 million tons, too).

“The costs of CO₂ emission rights have doubled in the last year, reaching more than 40 euros per ton emitted, a very relevant cost for the sector. In this sense, we welcome that the European Parliament is already taking the first steps, with the favorable vote last Wednesday, for the creation of a CO₂ border adjustment system for products imported from third countries that do not have a decarbonization agenda equivalent to that of the European Commission. It is an essential decision, not only to avoid the disappearance of European industry, but also, and above all, because the carbon tax has a real effectiveness on the environment “, comments Salvador Fernandez Capo, president of the Ciment Catalàemployers’ association.

On the other hand, the cement industry reaffirms its commitment to the progressive implementation of Circular Economy actions. The sector has undertaken an ambitious project to reduce CO₂emissions with the publication of the Roadmap for the Catalan cement industry to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This strategy highlights the material and energy use of waste, a milestone in that the public authorities must also contribute by authorizing the use of more quantity and variety of alternative fuels in Catalan factories.