The Cement Demand Index (IDC) in Catalonia in the month of February 2018 has moderated its growth, which has led to the average increase of the last 12 months to 15.5%, a little more than 1% compared to the previous month, according to the Cement Barometer, leading indicator of consumption prepared by the Oficemen Studies department. On the other hand, the Industrial Production Index (IPI) for cement manufacturing in Catalonia indicates a growth of 0.5% in February 2018 compared to the same month of 2017, with an increase in the last year of 19.6%.
Cement and clinker exports continue their negative trend (11% year-on-year decrease), although they have moderated their decline compared to the previous month. “We have a structural problem with respect to the foreign market”, says Salvador Fernández Capo, president of Ciment Català. “The electrical costs for the industry have been, in 2017, the second most expensive in Europe, only exceeded by those of Ireland, this causes loss of competitiveness of Catalan companies in international markets”, he explains. The price of electricity for industrial consumers has been 28% more expensive in Spain than the European average.