Ahead of the forthcoming UkrCemFor 2019 conference in Kiev next month, Pavlo Kachur, chairman of the Association of Cement Producers of Ukraine (Ukrcement), provides a timely update on the domestic cement sector’s priorities, progress and prospects.
ICR: How did the Ukrainian construction industry and domestic cement demand perform in 2018?
Pavlo Kachur (PK): The start of the 2018 season was generally quite disturbing for cement producers and the construction industry in general. March and the beginning of April were cold, and therefore, active construction only began in mid-May. As a result, output and sales contracted in the first quarter by more than 30 per cent compared to the same period of 2017. However, while sales by the end of the year had increased, both the construction sector and the cement markets completed the year less positively than expected.
