Cemex has reached an agreement with the Santi Vila authorities to keep running its Alcanar works in Tarragona, Spain. In return the Generalitat commits to dredge the port of Barcelona so large vessels can moor and as such, enable Cemex to export to new markets such as the US.

The dredging operation will cost EUR4.5m and will be completed before the summer. In September, Alcanar will receive a 40,000dwt ship.

Some 87 per cent of Cemex’s Alcanar production is destined for export, mainly to north Africa, the UK and Brazil.