Foreign market

The enormous growth in the cost of industrial electricity, an energy-intensive energy used in cement factories, had a very negative impact on the competitiveness of Catalan companies in international markets. Spain was the country with the most expensive price in Europe and cement plants tripled their initial budgets for electricity consumption, which led to an increase in production costs.

In addition, the price reached for CO₂ emission rights, which exceeded €80 per tonne, further contributed to the loss of competitiveness, with the consequent negative effect on exports, which fell by 135,000 tonnes in the previous year (7% less).

Exports have traditionally been a source of activity for indigenous factories in times of consumption crisis in domestic markets, as has been the case in the last decade. But the pressure on production costs due to the causes mentioned above has significantly limited this business channel during 2021.

Note: Quantities in tons
(*) Provisional data
Source: Oficemen