Spanish cement consumption in September was 1.7Mt, down 19.8 per cent over the same month last year. This is the 46th consecutive month of decline and according to the Economic Studies department of Spanish cement association, Oficemen, a change in trend is not expected given the available official bidding and building permit data. After signs of a slow recovery in early 2011, the decline in consumption has become steeper over the last six months.

In terms of production, clinker and cement output in September 2011 were down 28.6 and 20.3 per cent, respectively. Cement production stood at 1.8Mt.

Over the last 12 months cement production has dropped 12.8 per cent to 23.6Mt. Demand has fallen 14.5 per cent between October 2010 to September 2011. At 21.3Mt this puts consumption at levels last seen in 1973. Exports, however, have
 remained at 3.8Mt while imports were down 38.5 per cent.
Advertisement