The cement market in Romania last year had the highest growth rate since the entry of the three international strategic investors – Lafarge (France), Holcim (Switzerland) and HeidelbergCement (Germany).
According to estimates by players on this market, it was the high demand for construction supplies that “pulled” the cement market up by about 10%, double compared with 2003 and the growth rate from 1996 onwards. The pace is even higher than the overall progress of the economy, considering that the Gross Domestic Product rose approximately 8% in 2004.
“Carpatcement Holding SA, the local branch of the German construction supplies group HeidelbergCement estimates 159 million euro turnover for 2004, 33% higher than in the previous year, according to the preliminary results. The performance is based on the increase in the demand for cement, fuelled by the high volume of construction works,” Mihai Rohan, Carpatcement Holding general manager told Ziarul Financiar. The company is an integrated player on the construction supplies market in Romania, having put all the cement, concrete and aggregate divisions under the same umbrella last summer.
Holcim Romania, the local branch of Swiss Holcim Ltd in 2004 hit a record high in terms of turnover since its entry on this market in 1997, some 118 million euros. The growth on the previous year exceeds 10%, Holcim officials say.
The increase in demand made Carpatcement up its cement output from 1.7 to 2 million tonnes in 2004. The German operator has 3.1 million tonnes of installed capacity at its facilities.
French giant Lafarge, which owns domestic producer Lafarge Romcim announced a 29.7% increase in the value of its sales across Central and Eastern Europe, largely made possible by the demand on the constructions market in Romania. Lafarge Romcim has not released 2004 financials yet.
The rising demand for cement did not benefit local cement makers only, as imports from Ukraine hit record highs and grew even faster.
If compared against the total market, imports account for 5-6% of an estimated 5.3 – 5.4 million tonne cement market in 2004. In terms of value, cement sales are thought to have reached 270-280 million euros.
Each of the three international players on the market owns three cement factories.
Carpatcement facilities are Casial Deva, Moldocim Bicaz and Romcif Fieni, Holcim’s are Campulung, Alesd and Turda, while Lafarge’s are located in Medgidia, Targu Jiu and Hoghiz. The only exporter of cement in Romania is Lafarge, which benefits from the location of its Medgidia facility that is close to the Midia Harbour, while Lafarge Romcim has recently merged by absorption with Sicim Constanta harbour operator. adrian.mirsanu@zf.ro