3Q gray cement ex-works prices to see sharp increase in the Mediterranean Basin and China

Gray cement ex-works prices on a yearly basis are estimated to range from a decrease of more than 7 percent in the Asia Pacific region to an increase of 14 percent in China, according to the 3Q2021 update of CW Research's Global Cement Trade Price Report.

In the Mediterranean Basin, ex-works prices are expected to see a slight increase quarter-on-quarter and over a 10 percent increase when compared to the same period last year.

ÔÇ£Spain, Algeria and Italy are set to have an increase in prices in the third quarter, as demand has rebounded sharply. Meanwhile, in China, average ex-works price of cement is likely to record strong growth on a yearly basis, despite a decrease of almost 4 percent quarter-on-quarter due to the rainy season in the past couple of months,ÔÇØ assessed Prashant Singh, Associate Director at CW Group.

 

South Korea continues to drag down Asia-Pacific ex-China cement prices

Ex-work prices in Asia-Pacific ex-China are predicted to slightly rise quarter-on-quarter in 3Q2021 with the singular exception of South Korea, as almost all markets are seeing economic rebounds. In South Korea, average ex-works prices are estimated to see a decline of almost 2 percent on a quarterly basis.

South Asia is also expected to record a decline in average ex-works price quarter-on-quarter in the third quarter of 2021, as prices in India have been witnessing downward pressure.

 

Ex-work cement prices in the Americas on an upward trajectory

In the third quarter of 2021, in North and Central America, cement ex-works prices are expected to rise by almost 2 percent on a quarterly basis.

Meanwhile, in South America, average cement ex-works prices are set to experience a 1 percent increase quarter-on-quarter, and almost a 13 percent increase year-on-year. Prices are likely to be boosted by a significant rise in Brazilian prices, due to the positive performance of a resilient construction sector.

 

Western Europe's prices to decrease as France and Germany's construction sectors decline

In Western Europe, during the third quarter of 2021, the regional average ex-works price of cement is expected to see a decrease of about 1 percent quarter-on-quarter, despite a rise on a yearly basis.

The decline on a quarterly basis is mostly due to a decline in prices in France and Germany, whose construction sectors contracted in the second quarter of 2021.

 

 

 

The Global Cement Trade Price Report is CW Research's benchmark price assessment for monthly gray cement, white cement, clinker and granulated blast furnace slag prices and volumes. The 150+ page report, published on a quarterly basis, serves as the industry go-to source for monthly price data for over 70 individual markets worldwide, including multiple cornerstone data series: import, export, ex-works and market prices.

Find out more about the report here.