Catalonian cement demand increases

Cement demand in the Catalonia region, northeastern Spain, stood at 6.2Mt in 2004, a 2.85 per cent YoY increase, the local cement makers association Ciment Catala said.

The association highlighted the slowdown in the rate of increase of cement demand in the region. The cement demand in Catalonia increased 4.37 per cent YoY in 2003, and 9.15 per cent  YoY in 2002. 

Cement demand in the Barcelona province in the region accounted for 60 per cent of the total demand in Catalonia, demand in the Tarragona province for 15.47 per cent of the total, the demand in the Girona province for 14.18 per cent of the total, and demand in the Lleida province for 10.26 per cent. 

The production of cement in the Catalonia region increased 3.12 per cent to more than 8Mt. Cement makers in the region worked at 90.42 per cent of their capacity.  Cement imports of the region rose 25.2 per cent and exports increased 23.55 per cent.