The cement market, one of the most dynamic sectors within the constructions industry, is expected to expand by around 15% this year in terms of volume, helped by a 4-5% price hike.

As a result, the value of the cement market could reach around 600 million euros this year, boosted by private sector investments.

The constructions market achieved a record high growth rate last year, around 20%, the most dynamic growth registered since 1990. The ballooning demand for construction materials generated growth on the cement market, with producers having to make massive investments in their production facilities.

Cement producers are expected to double their production capacities in the next 3 to 4 years, according to Carpatcement Holding representatives.

Holcim Romania announced investments worth 86 million euros this year, in the development of environmental protection, in the modernisation of production lines, in building concrete and aggregate-mixing stations, and in the development of logistical spaces.

According to Philippe Questiaux, the general manager of Lafarge Cement, the cement market is poised to witness a growth of around 15-20% this year, with the company having the necessary resources to sustain this rate.

Lafarge continues to carry out its investment programme, worth approximately 100 million euros, throughout the 2006-2012 period, in order to increase productivity and improve service quality and comply with the EU environmental protection requirements. The total investments operated by the three companies on the cement market exceeded 1 billion euros last year. Overall, the cement market increased by 26% last year, double the projected rate, reaching 7.7 million tonnes, with the market growth rate expected to remain at a level of 15% this year.

At present, cement consumption in Romania stands at 334 kg per capita, wh