The cement market fell by a third last year

Romania’s cement market fell 30 percent in 2009, to 8 million tons, and sees further down in 2010, announced the executive head of cement business owners association CIROM.

“2010 will be worse than 2009. The market won’t reach 2008 levels in the next three to five years,” said Ion Crangasu, from the association. He estimates the market will decrease by 5 percent to 10 percent this year. In 2009, cement production decreased 27.8 percent, to 7.8 million tons, while sales of the largest three cement producers decreased at EUR620 million in 2009, from EUR910 million a year before. The largest three cement producers on the local market are French Lafarge, Germany’s HeilderbergCement and Swiss Holcim.