Czech production down 28%

Exports, the backbone of the German economy, have been hit hard by the recession, and in the quarrying industry there is a mixture of pessimism and optimism Germany is the largest construction market in Europe, with over half of all investments in the country flowing into such projects.

Heidelberg Cement has reported that like for like demand for cement, aggregates and ready mixed concrete was up in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to the same period in the previous year, despite the early start of the winter weather in Europe.This positive trend in the final three months helped the company to finish the year with a turnover of €11.8billion, up 5.8% from 2009 and a rise of 8.6% in operating income at €1.43billion."We are pleased with our Q4 results, which we realised despite an extreme

Cement usage in Spain during 2013 will have dropped 20% to below the 11 million tonnes mark, according to figures from sector association Oficemen, taking the accumulated drop in the last six years to 80%.

There is already a forecast that in 2014 there will be further drops of around 7% or 8% to around 10 million tonnes, making the consumption per head just 220kg, levels last seen in 1962.

At the end of November 2013, consumption was at just 10.2 million tonnes, which is 20% down on a year earlier and

It has long been reported that the aggregates industry in Italy is one of fragmentation and of small family businesses unwilling or unable to form bonds strong enough to consolidate and create a cohesive force. And while that situation continues, as it appears to be doing, the industry will not make a name for itself as a major contributor to the Italian economy as a whole. Italy is not a member of the UEPG (European Aggregates Association), although figures from that organisation put it at number six in it