The Nordic markets experienced mixed fortunes through 2014 with some having experienced declines in cement demand, while others saw recovery and growth. On the production front, important strides are being made with alternative fuels usage. Meanwhile, the region contains one of the most dense trading distribution networks in the world.
Sweden, Norway and Finland, in that order, are the biggest Nordic cement markets, with Denmark in fourth place. The three Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have relatively modest per capita consumption by European standards and their populations are each below 3m.
Norway, helped by its oil and gas activity and the wealth it brings, has by far the highest per capita consumption in the region at an estimated 410kg last year. However, the abundance of wood in the Nordic area has kept cement consumption low. With the notable exception of Finland, all countries are important exporters of cementitious products.
