Spanish state-owned company Puertos del Estado, which heads 28 port authorities and 46 commercial ports in the country, published a study in July 2019 comparing port costs in Spain and other Mediterranean countries for six dry bulk industrial commodities, including cement and clinker. With European cement producers looking to increase competitiveness, could there be room for improvement in terms of cost savings in port operations? By Sylvie Doutres, DSG Consultants, France, and Alberto Estrada, Estrada Port Consulting, Spain.
The Mediterranean Sea has always played a vital role in the global economy and international trade. However, in recent years bordering countries have been impacted by downturns in construction activity. As a result, the region faces a structural cement surplus which has increased competition among regional cement exporters to an unprecedented level.
