Slower growth for the cement market in 2008

“Cement deliveries in December 2006 and January 2007 were 5 times higher than in the same period last year. I expect the cement market to grow by 15-20 percent in 2008,” said Mihai Rohan, President of Carpatcement Holding. Philippe Platon, Financial Manager of Lafarge Ciment and Francois Laporte, Marketing Manager of Holcim Romania, concur with these estimates.

The Romanian construction market boom in the past few years led local cement producers to invest in the expansion of their production capacities, and consider building new factories. Carpatcement Holding, cement division of German group Heidelberg Cement, will invest €55 million in the coming two years to expand its Bicaz unit.

Holcim Romania will invest €180 mln to expand its production, while Lafarge Romania has announced investments worth €58 mln to extend cement factories.

Last year, the cement market reached 10.5 million tons. Main competitors on the local market are Holcim Switzerland, Lafarge France and HeidelbergCement Germany.