Germany consumed approximately 28.8Mt of cement in 2017, roughly 4.8 per cent more than in 2016, according to VDZ. However, much less growth is expected in 2018.

VDZ President Christian Knell explains the rise in cement consumption in Germany as follows: "Since 2015 there has been an upward trend on the German cement market thanks to the positive developments in the building construction and civil engineering sectors."

In 2017, over 1.3Mt more of cement was used than in the year before. "This growth can primarily be attributed to higher investments in new construction work. But one-off effects such as good weather conditions were also significant factors," says Mr Knell.

Domestic demand for cement was almost completely satisfied by German-based producers last year. Only 1.6Mt or 5.4 per cent had to be imported. This figure has increased slightly compared to the preceding years. The same applies to cement exports, which rose by 1.6 per cent to around 6.2Mt, according to the German Federal Statistical Office.

The industry sees itself in a stable overall position in the current year. "Potential for growth is still evident in certain construction sectors. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to exploit this as we are reaching capacity limits in the construction industry," adds Mr Knell.