Martinique: The introduction of the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism on imported materials has been ‘met with disapproval’ in the French West Indies, particularly within the construction sector, according to local press. From 1 January 2026, the measure applies to imports from outside the EU, targeting goods such as aluminum, steel and clinker.
Martinique has no clinker production capacity, and imported over 120,000t of the material in 2025.
Laurent Nesty, sales director of Ciments Antillais (part of the Lafarge Holcim group), said the tax will increase the price of concrete by 7-8%, and the price of cement by 11%. “It is completely impossible to absorb this increase, since the amount we will have to pay by 2034 will be greater than our turnover. Therefore, we have an obligation to pass on this amount," he said. Nesty added that there are currently no viable European or local alternatives to imported clinker, with imports coming from countries such as Mexico and Algeria.
