Spain: Spanish cement production fell by a further 60% year-on-year in the first half of 2012 according to Oficemen, the sector's national association. Oficemen noted that demand for cement in Spain has now dropped to a 48-year low, with levels as low as this not seen since 1964. The association previously announced that the country produced 6Mt of cement in the five months to 31 May 2012, but did not provide a total amount for the first half of 2012.
Consumption also fell, by 34.7%, year-on-year to 7.2Mt in the first six months of 2012. Oficemen expects demand to plunge by 25% to 15Mt for the full year. Accordingly, it is expected that exports from Spain will increase by 40% year-on-year to 6Mt in 2012.
These figures compare unfavourably with 2011's own poor figures and come as the Spanish economy continues to struggle with its Eurozone debt, protests at austerity measures and unemployment of 25%.