Morocco’s cement demand declines 3% in 2017

The Moroccan cement market contracted 2.5 per cent to 13,791,222t in 2017 when compared 14,151,095t in 2016, according to the country’s cement association, APC. The fall takes consumption to the lowest level in a decade.

Major demand areas such as Casablanca-Settat and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima saw significant declines in consumption. Casablanca-Settat noted a 4.2 per cent YoY fall to 3,031,546t while cement sales in Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima dropped 2.6 per cent YoY to 1,822,419t.

The decline has been attributed to reduced self-construction and the building of social housing as well as a contraction in public works activity.

In December, demand slipped by 2.5 per cent to 1,125,388t. Consumption growth was confined to the markets of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab (+30.9 per cent) Guelmin-Oued Noun (+19.7 per cent), Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (+4.1 per cent) and Souss-Massa (+4.1 per cent). Major contractions were reported in Béni Mellal-Khénifra (-13 per cent), Drâa-Tafilet (-8.2 per cent) and Oriental (-7.7 per cent).