Russia's 9% aggregates growth

The biggest country in the world, with probably the most diverse geology, Russia is also a relative newcomer to some of the Western business practices and attitudes that its global counterparts take for granted. After the collapse of communism, Russia had no SME style businesses as we see them in the West - dynamic and aggressive developers of new markets and ideas that can move geographically and economically to fill voids in the marketplace.

As the top aggregates producer in Europe, Germany is making the most of its strong position to ensure that it continues to lead the way out of the recession. Industry commentators agree that the overall economic prospects still look positive and that the improving employment situation plus favourable financing conditions are helping to incentivise home ownership, which can only be good for Germany’s historically healthy construction market. (Existing buildings, however, still account for more than 75% of th

According to Intesco Research Group, Russian exports of cement decreased by 59% in 2011. Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan accounted for over 95% of all exports. The Ukrainian imports of cement increased by 31% in H1 2012, compared with the whole 2011.