Czech cement production down 14% in 1Q12

Cement production in the Czech Republic declined 14% YoY to 465,555t in the January-March period due to a drop in construction activity and a cold winter, the Czech Cement Producers Association has said.

Domestic consumption and exports also fell, the association told CTK Business News. "A combination of several effects was behind the significant drop in Czech cement production and consumption in the first quarter this year," Jan Hrozek, Ceskomoravsky cement board chairman said. Unclear policy of the Transport Ministry and resulting changes in priorities in infrastructure projects are one of the reasons, Hrozek added.

Local sales were down eight per cent at 404,428t and exports declined 24% YoY.

The outlook for the remainder of the year is now uncertain. "Cement consumption will depend on financial possibilities of investors," Hrozek said. "Overall I expect domestic cement consumption to stagnate this year, with possible recovery to come at the end of the third quarter," he added.