Cement Producers Pin Their Hopes On 2012

06.17.2011 By Andreea Neferu

Romanian cement market will stand at around half a billion euros this year as forecasts point to stagnation or a very frail increase, says Mihai Rohan, president of cement industry association CIROM, and chairman of producer Carpatcement.

"The cement market last year reached around EUR500 million and 2011 will bring a similar value," Rohan said after a conference of the industry's association CIROM celebrating twenty years since its establishment.

Cement production declined by around 11% in 2010, to 6.9 million tons, while domestic consumption shrank by 12% to 6.85 million tons. Whereas in 2011 the cement market could remain flat or rise by 1-2%, in 2012, an electoral year, it would expand by 3-5% owing to infrastructure or engineering works, explained Rohan.

On the other hand, cement production in the first quarter advanced by around 13% to 798,000 tons, while sales rose by 7.6% in the same period to 734,000 tons.

10% of cement production currently goes to the infrastructure field, but the percentage is likely to rise as a series of works for the construction of pan-European Corridor IV of highways, as well as for other national roads and beltways are expected to start.