Bruno Carré, president of the Syndicat Français de l’Industrie Cimentière (SFIC) expects production to reach 18Mt this year, up two per cent compared to 2009.

In terms of the outlook for consumption, Mr Carré said: "Only the new housing market activity supports cement in 2010-2011.”

He added: "Despite the lacklustre numbers, the cement market in France defends itself rather better than the European average."
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