Cement and clinker flows from/in the Mediterranean

The countries of the Mediterranean having excess capacity for the production of cement and clinker in the region, the export of these materials remains a tool to adjust the output. In 2016, six Mediterranean countries (Turkey, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy and Morocco) exported 30.5 Mt of cement and clinker, accounting for 80% of total exports from the whole Mediterranean area. In recent years, the share of clinker in the total volume of exported cement products has been growing. Since 2015, cement imports from these countries have grown significantly in North America and the Mediterranean itself. The main importers of clinker are the countries of Africa. It is expected that in the future the competition of the exporters from the Mediterranean in the new markets will depend more on logistics and consumer requirements for the quality of the products shipped than on FOB prices, which are approximately the same in all Mediterranean countries.

Author: S. Doutres

Section: Review

Keywords: cement, clinker, export, import