Gray cement export price set to decline in 4Q2021

CW price index for gray cement exports is set to decrease by almost 2 percent in 4Q2021, when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, and it is estimated to decrease less than 2 percent when compared to the preceding quarter, according to the 4Q2021 update of CW Research's Global Cement Trade Price Report.

In the two largest gray cement exporting regions, the Mediterranean Basin and Asia-Pacific-Japan, CW price index for gray cement is expected to decline in the fourth quarter of 2021, by 0.2 percent and by almost 1 percent quarter-on-quarter, respectively.

ÔÇ£The global economy, which has seen a remarkable and quick recovery after the Covid-19 shock in 2020, regained robust growth throughout 2021, which reflected in rising cement prices and trade volumes. However, uncertainty about new Covid-19 variants, inflation pressure across key markets, escalating freight rates, and long delays in berthing at several ports have put a toll on cement prices growth at the end of the year,ÔÇØ assessed Carolina Pereira, Director at CW Group.

CW price index in the Americas to decrease in 4Q2021

Cement export prices in North America and the Caribbean, on average, are estimated to decrease about 2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to the previous quarter.

Meanwhile, in South America, average cement export prices are likely to remain stable, slightly decreasing quarter-on-quarter by 0.3 percent.

Turkey's cement export price increase in the 3Q2021

Turkey remained the world's largest gray cement exporter. In 3Q2021, Turkey exported 4.5 percent less cement in terms of volume, compared to the previous quarter, while prices increased over 19 percent year-on-year.

In the third quarter of 2021, the region that accounted for the largest export volumes was the Mediterranean Basin, followed by Asia-Pacific-Japan. In both regions, cement trade volumes decreased quarter-on-quarter, down by about 2 percent.

Global cement trade volumes decline in the third quarter

Global gray cement exports volumes in the third quarter of 2021 decreased almost 2 percent quarter-on-quarter, while compared to the same quarter the previous year, they increased around 12 percent.

In the Eastern Europe region, the third largest gray cement exporting region, an increase of more than 2 percent quarter-on-quarter was noted. Meanwhile, Western Europe's trade volume reduced by more than 4 percent over the previous quarter.

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.