Cement News tagged under: market reports
Spain: drivers for development02 September 2020, Published under Cement NewsIn 2019 Spanish cement consumption registered its third consecutive year of recovery but the impact of COVID-19 has now brought fresh uncertainty. Despite the demand situation, Spanish cement association, Oficemen, discusses how the domestic sector continues to evolve and is finding ways to lay the groundwork for future development. By Oficemen, Spain. Despite the impact of COVID-19 on the Spanish cement industry, the sector is focussed on its future, supported by a drive to includ... |
Bracing for an uncertain future25 August 2020, Published under Cement NewsDespite being a general election year, Indian cement demand growth unexpectedly stagnated for most of 2019. Furthermore, the ongoing COVID-19 crisis further restricted demand in the opening quarters of 2020. Going forward, considerable uncertainty remains and hope rests on an economic recovery led by a large-scale stimulus package. The decline in investment proposals and project announcements in India’s infrastructure sector suggest a sluggish demand environment due to the coronavi... |
Central America’s resilience17 August 2020, Published under Cement NewsThe markets of Honduras, Panama, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica will have to show fresh resilience in the resultant aftermath of COVID-19. Dependent on tourism and overseas remittances, central government funds will have been hit hard and economic recovery may be a protracted struggle. While Guatemala is home to Central America’s largest cement production base, accounting for 5.8Mta of capacity, it has seen imports rise in recent years like elsewhere in th... |
Slowly back on track in Brazil?04 August 2020, Published under Cement NewsFollowing a four-year downturn, Brazil’s cement sector was in recovery mode in 2019. However, after a slow start to the year due to inclement weather, the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a further drop in sales in spring. The latest data show signs of demand recovery with producers pinning hopes on the implementation of private and public construction projects. Brazil’s cement industry is expecting better news in the months ahead as the resumption of private and public constructio... |
East Africa: keeping the lights on28 July 2020, Published under Cement NewsWith overcapacity and pricing pressures weighing in on the east African cement industry, cement producers are setting their sights on the return of strong demand by 2023. In the meantime, will they prepare by taking up a stronger position, possibly through industry consolidation? By Standard Investment Bank, Kenya. The Tanzanian cement industry is expected to see an improving landscape from 2021 The East African Community (EAC) recorded real GDP growth of 5.9 per cent in 2019, s... |
Dry bulk outlook amid COVID-19 impact21 July 2020, Published under Cement NewsAs the coronavirus took hold of global economic activity, dry bulk trade crashed. As some parts of the world cautiously move out of lockdown, what is the outlook for the shipping of cement and other dry bulk trades? By Rahul Sharan, Drewry Maritime Research, UK. Figure 1: the world’s largest cement importers (top) and exporters (bottom), 2019 The COVID-19 pandemic that started with China has now gripped almost the entire world, severely hitting global economic activities and ... |
Bangladesh: overcoming industry pressures20 July 2020, Published under Cement NewsCement demand in Bangladesh has been growing fast and potential is strong. However, in 2019 producers faced a number of setbacks, added to which now is the COVID-19 impact. By EBL Securities Ltd, Bangladesh. Although a booming sector with great potential, a number of challenges remain for the cement producers in Bangladesh From unfavourable tax measures to escalating raw material prices, intensified competition, price wars, the weakening taka (BDT), slowing demand and increas... |
Euro-Med trading trends14 July 2020, Published under Cement NewsSince 2012 the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea have suffered from various challenges, including economic crises, increasing migration flows and Islamism, wars, political instability, oil price fluctuations and now the COVID-19 pandemic. This uncertainty has affected construction activity in most Mediterranean countries. With growing CO 2 concerns and stronger EU-related regulations, regional cement producers are not playing in international markets with the same cards: non-EU pl... |
Japan: towards higher profits07 July 2020, Published under Cement NewsWith an ageing population and requirement for more construction investment, the Japanese cement industry faces many challenges. There is a need for the sector to return to profitable pricing levels and modernise its production facilities, particularly as energy conservation and emissions reduction requirements shift from a domestic to a global focus. By Hajime Inoue, Japan Credit Rating Agency Ltd, Japan. While medium-term cement demand is robust, Japan’s ageing population and lagging... |
The impact of COVID-19 on global cement trade06 July 2020, Published under Cement NewsGlobal cement and clinker trade will be seriously affected by the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. There will be a global reduction in cement consumption. Seaborne cement trade and distribution will take an even larger hit. It is still too early to accurately forecast the reduction in seaborne cement and clinker movements. What can be done, however, is to look at the economic mechanisms behind trade and distribution, and use this as a tool for a general forecast. We also... |