Spanish full year cement consumption falls 17.2%

Spain has witnessed a double-digit decline in full year 2011 cement consumption of 17.2 per cent to 20.2Mt compared to 24.5Mt in 2010, latest data from Oficemen shows. Cement production, meanwhile, fell by 16 per cent to 22Mt and clinker output was down 14.2 per cent to 18.2Mt.
 
Exports of 3.8Mt were similar to those registered in 2011, while imports were down 39.2 per cent.
 
Regionally, the decline in cement consumption was more pronounced in Catalonia and the West (-21.3 per cent and 21.5 per cent, respectively) while the North saw reductions of 12 per cent, while Central and Andalusia also experienced signficant declines (-15.3% and -15.7 per cent respectively) although somewhat lower than the national average.
 
In light of these figures, Aniceto Zaragoza, CEO of Oficemen, has welcomed government measures to extend for one year a reduction in VAT on new home purchases.  He also hopes the government will implement measures to revive public works, as the current situation is “extremely worrying”.