The Cement Demand Index (CDI) in Catalonia in the month of January 2018 continues with growth rates as those of the previous months, according to the Cement Barometer, an advance indicator of consumption prepared by the Department of Studies of Oficemen. The average increase of the last 12 months has been close to 20%, increasing by 0.6 percentage points compared to December 2017. This rise is due to the good evolution of residential construction.
Cement and clinker exports continue with their negative trend, since in 2017 there was a 21% fall. “The electrical costs for the industry are the third most expensive in Europe”, considers Salvador Fernández Capo, President of Ciment Català. “The price of electricity has risen by 31% in 2017 and this causes loss of competitiveness of Catalan companies in international markets”, he explains.