Since 2007, demand for cement in the Spanish region of Catalonia is said now to have decreased to a third of what it was then.
Since then, production in the region has dropped from record levels at 9.5 million tonnes to the 3.9 million tonnes at the end of 2011.
A further 20% drop was recorded during the first half of 2012. The drop was so severe that producers now believe that the only way is upwards, and the industry will see volumes increase again in 2014 or 2015 at the latest.
Compared to the seven plants operating in Catalonia in 2007, now only four remain operational all year round, and one only operates at a 50% capacity.
According to reports, while imports in 2007 accounted for almost 2 million tonnes, nowadays, cement producers in Catalonia are struggling to find buyers outside the region, where they sell 1.6 million tonnes.
