Cement News tagged under: construction

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UK construction industry challenges

16 June 2017, Published under Cement News

With Brexit, the process of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, causing widespread uncertainty for the UK economy, the results of the country's general election last week have added an extra level of instability for the construction industry. Despite concerns over the Brexit effect and buoyed by better-than-expected GDP growth, the UK government has been pressing ahead with a number of significant infrastructure projects, including the first nuclear reactor to be b uilt in Britain in two dec...

Pakistan FY18 budget 'neutral' for cement industry

31 May 2017, Published under Cement News

Announcing its FY18 Budget on Friday, the Pakistan government has increased the allocation for its Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) and reduced corporate tax, but on the other hand increased has Federal Excise Duty (FED) and provided no relief to aid dwindling cement exports. Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar, in his budget 2017-18 has proposed the allocation of PKR1001bn (US$9.5bn) for the PSDP in FY17-18, of which 67 per cent will be dedicated to infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, FED...

Euro area production in construction sees monthly decline

23 May 2017, Published under Cement News

Production in construction in the euro area (EA19) and EU28 was down on a monthly comparison basis due to declines in building construction activity. However increases were recorded on an annual comparison basis with rises observed in building construction and and the civil engineering segments. Monthly declines In March 2017, compared with February 2017, seasonally-adjusted production in the construction sector declined by 1.1 per cent in the euro area and by 0.8 per cent in the EU28, a...

MPA outlines priorities for the next government

05 May 2017, Published under Cement News

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has issued its priorities for the next UK government ahead of the general election on 8 June 2017. The government's post-election policy development and implementation will be central to the future health of the UK economy and the mineral products sector upon which so much depends, the MPA said in a statement. Negotiating a good deal on Brexit, which maintains UK competitiveness, will be vital, the trade association adds. The MPA has outlined six m...

MPA sales suggest 'continued impetus' in construction

04 May 2017, Published under Cement News

Construction market demand in the UK for mineral products was higher in the first three months of this year compared with the previous quarter, providing some evidence of continued impetus in construction activity at the start of the year, according to the Mineral Products Association (MPA). Sales of aggregates grew by 2.1 per cent in 1Q17 compared to the previous quarter and ready-mix concrete by a positive but more subdued 0.7 per cent. Mortar sales accelerated further after the strong ...

Construction output up by 6.9% in euro area

24 April 2017, Published under Cement News

In February 2017, compared with January 2017, seasonally-adjusted production in the construction sector increased by 6.9 per cent in the euro area (EA19) and by 4.4 per cent in the EU28, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In January 2017 construction output fell by 2.4 per cent in the euro area and by 1.5 per cent in the EU28. In February 2017 compared with February 2016, production in construction rose by 7.1 per cent in the euro ar...

CPA: UK construction industry beats post-Brexit expectations

19 April 2017, Published under Cement News

Activity in the UK construction industry is rising at a faster pace following the EU referendum than initially expected, according to the latest forecasts by the Construction Products Association (CPA). Construction output is expected to rise each year between 2017-19, by 1.3 per cent in 2017, 1.2 per cent in 2018 and 2.3 per cent in 2019. The CPA highlights that while the figures may fuel hope of a resilient UK construction industry amid Brexit-related anxieties and rising costs, the grow...

A fragile but positive outlook

05 December 2016, Published under Cement News

While South America’s cement markets may have been considerably affected by the economic downturn, the Central American countries of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama are hopeful of a better future. Domestic cement producers are looking for an upturn in cement demand, particularly following recent increases in their production capacities. By Rob Roy, ROI Economic Consulting, USA. In Honduras Argos operates the 1.3Mta Piedras Azules integrated...

Saudi Arabia: changing times?

14 November 2016, Published under Cement News

The 2017 outlook for the Saudi Arabian cement sector remains neutral unless the government continues its spending spree. But as the subdued oil price environment calls for a more-diversified economy and spending cuts to rein in costs, cement demand in the kingdom could be in for a gloomy ride in the medium term. By Santhosh Balakrishnan, Riyad Capital, Saudi Arabia. As oil prices remain subdued, Saudi Arabia may need to rein in its construction ambitions  The Kingdom of Saudi Ar...

Germany: a positive outlook?

31 October 2016, Published under Cement News

As the German economy continues to expand, investment in construction is rising. However, the recovery of the key market appears to be slowing and cement demand in 2015 slipped when compared to the previous year’s volumes. But with imports declining and exports recovering, the outlook for domestic cement producers is improving. Will Germany's cement producers be able to look forward to a continued recovery in the domestic construction market? The German economy expanded 1.7 per ...