Austria delivers stable cement sales in 2012

The Austrian cement industry saw stable sales in 2012 despite difficult operating conditions and a sluggish economy, according to the country’s cement association, VÖZ. However, the construction industry noted an expansion of six per cent on the back of a long building season, a mildly positive development in high-rise construction and renovation projects.

As a result, cement plants were able to achieve a EUR375m turnover and can expect a modest increase for this year. While in 1Q13, cement demand ran five per cent lower than the equivalent period of the previous year, in May the decline slowed to just under three per cent.

In terms of production, Austria’s cement companies manufactured 4.46Mt in 2012, edging up slightly from 4.43Mt in 2011.