Romania sees no growth in 2013 construction materials market

The 2009 downturn hit Romania’s construction industry harder than any other in central Europe: it is likely to lead the recovery. Romania’s construction industry was hit harder than any other in central Europe by the 2009 downturn, but there are signs of optimism. European Union funding is beginning to fall into place alongside major infrastructure plans throughout the country. Just three or four years ago, Romania’s construction industry was doing well: cement use alone reached record levels in 2008 at 600

Thanks to public works and possible restocking, the construction material market was stronger than expected in 2013, according to Unicem, the French union for quarry and construction materials industries.

Overall, sales of materials in volume fell 0.2% from 493.5 million tonnes in 2012. Aggregates grew 1.8% from 360 million tonnes in 2012 while ready-to-pour concrete fell 1.8% from 39.4 million m³. Cement dropped 3.1% from 20 million tonnes; bricks dropped 7.8% from 2.2 million tonnes and tiles fell 2.9%