German cement consumption in 2015: 26.6 million tons
Some 26.6 million tons of cement were consumed in Germany in 2015. That was 2.2 % less than the year before, but “Verein Deutscher Zementwerke e.V.” (VDZ – German Cement Works Association) is anticipating a positive market trend for 2016. In VDZ President Gerhard Hirth’s opinion, “The 4th quarter of 2015 was nearly 4 percent better than the year before, and that is a positive sign.”
Most domestic demand for cement last year was covered by German producers. Only 1.2 million tons, or approx. 5 % of overall consumption, was imported in 2015. In comparison with the previous year, that amounted to a 6.5 % decrease. By way of contrast, the export figures added up to approx. 6.6 million tons. According to the German Federal Statistical Office, that was a gain of about 6.5 %.
As Gerhard Hirth sees it, the German cement industry can take an optimistic view of the year to come. “There is enormous political pressure building up,” the VDZ president says, “to create affordable housing and to improve the condition of the country’s traffic infrastructure. We are therefore expecting some positive impacts on cement consumption, especially in the areas of multi-storey residentials and public-sector civil engineering.”
Current VDZ membership includes 19 German cement companies operating a total of 49 cement works. With a workforce of roughly 7900 employees, the branch generates a total annual turnover of approximately 2.5 billion euros.
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