The cement market - Italy (2025)

1.2 The global market

globally, the cement market will reach a total value of $***.** billion in ****. For the period ****-****, the industry is expected to grow moderately with a compound annual growth rate (***) of *.** percent. By the end of the period, the global cement market could reach a total value of more than $*** billion.

Cement Market World, ****-****, in billions of dollars IMARCGroup

Consumption

Between **** and ****, global cement consumption increased from *.** billion tons to *.** billion tons, registering an overall growth of *.* percent. After growing steadily between **** and ****, culminating in a high of *.** billion tons, consumption contracted slightly, falling to *.** billion in **** and further to *.** billion in ****, showing a downward trend in the last two years. Cement Consumption World, ****-****, in billions of tons Federbeton In ****, China accounted for **.* percent of global cement consumption, followed by India with **.* percent. Europe and the Middle East and North Africa contributed *% and *%, respectively, while South Asia and Oceania reached *%. Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the United States showed lower consumption of * percent, * percent and *.* percent, respectively. The "Other" category contributed *.*%. Cement consumption, breakdown by geographic area World, ****, % Federbeton

1.3 The Italian market

The turnover of the cement supply chain in Italy increased from €*.** billion in **** to €**.** billion in ****, with an overall increase of **.* percent and a compound annual growth rate (***) of *.* percent. After a slight contraction in ****, the industry experienced continued growth, with a more pronounced acceleration between **** and ****.

Total cement supply chain turnover Italy, ****-****, in billion euros Fedebeton

The turnover of companies active in cement production in Italy increased from *.** billion euros in **** to *.** billion in ****, registering an overall growth of **.* percent. After a decline between **** and ****, the industry resumed growth from ****, reaching a peak of *.** billion in ****, and then declining slightly in ****. The estimate for ****, made using ISTAT's index on the turnover of the cement, lime and gypsum production industry, indicates marked growth. Total turnover of companies active in cement production (***) Italy, ****-****, in billions of euros Istat Between **** and ****, the volume of cement production sold in Italy changed moderately, starting from **.* million tons in ****, peaking at **.* million in **** and dropping to **.** million in ****, an overall contraction of *.* percent. Production value, on the other hand, increased steadily from *.** billion in **** to *.** billion in ****, an overall growth of **.* percent. This shows an increase in average selling prices, especially between **** and ****, despite ...

1.4 Import and Export

To analyze cement trade flows in and out of Italy, data on products classified under HS Code **** are examined. Between **** and ****, Italy's trade position shifted from net exporter to net importer, marking a significant change in the industry's supply and competitiveness dynamics. During the period analyzed, Italy's cement imports increased significantly from €***.* million in **** to €***.** million in ****, registering a growth of ***.* percent. At the same time, exports showed a smaller increase, rising from ***.* million euros to ***.** million euros, an increase of **.* percent. As a result, thecoverage ratio-which measures the ratio of exports to imports-fell from ***.* percent in **** to **.* percent in ****, showing an increase in import dependence. This trend reflects an increasing need for sourcing from abroad, influenced by competitive factors, domestic production costs and global market dynamics, which are redefining the trade balance of the Italian cement sector.

Cement Import - Export Italy, ****-****, in million euros and % Uncomtrade

In terms of exports, France is Italy's main trading partner, collecting **.* percent of total exports alone. Also taking into account data from Switzerland (***). Main destination countries for cement exports Italy, ****, % Uncomtrade On the import side, Turkey is Italy's main cement supplier. In ****, Turkey contributed **.* percent of total Italian imports, while France and ...

2.1 Demand trends

In recent years, the cement and concrete sector in Italy has shown fluctuatingtrends, with fluctuations in demand, distribution and production value. These fluctuations reflect trends in the construction and infrastructure market, influenced by economic dynamics, production cycles and public and private investment policies. Cement consumption between **** and **** fluctuated significantly. The lowest level was in ****, at **.** million tons, due to theimpact of the pandemic on the construction sector. It peaked in ****, at **.** million tons, driven by economic recovery and incentives for renovations and infrastructure works. In ****, cement consumption stood at **.** million tons, showing a slight increase compared to ****, but still marking an overall contraction of *.* percent compared to ****. This trend suggests a settling phase in the market, with demand remaining high but affected by economic conditions, green transition policies and investment strategies in the construction sector.

Cement consumption Italy, ****-****, in millions of tons Federbeton

Concrete batching plants took the largest share of intermediate cement deliveries in ****, with ** percent of the total. They are followed by building materials dealers (***), while construction companies and the chemical industry account for smaller shares. Destinations of domestic cement deliveries Italy, ****, % Federbeton The number of companies active in concrete production decreased by **.* percent between **** and ****, from **** to ...

2.2 Construction in Italy

For the analysis of cement demand drivers, investment in construction in Italy and trends in the number of new residential and nonresidential buildings are analyzed.

Regarding the first aspect, in **** extraordinary maintenance in the residential sector gathered **.* percent of total investment in the construction sector. This was followed by non-residential building construction by private individuals and non-residential building construction by the state, with shares of **.* percent and **.* percent, respectively. Finally, new housing construction garnered **.* percent of total investment in ****. Investment in construction, breakdown by sector Italy. ****, % Ance The number of new residential buildings showed a swinging trend between **** and ****, peaking at **.** thousand units in ****. For ****, the partial figure for the first three quarters marks **.** thousand units, suggesting a possible decline from previous years, but with no definitive view on the full year yet.

New residential buildings and investment value Italy, ****-****, in thousands of units and billions of euros

The area of new residential buildings also followed a similar dynamic, with a high of ****.** million square meters in **** and a partial value of ****.** million for ****. The trend seems to be downward, but the final figure will depend on the performance of the last quarter.

New residential buildings - floor area Italy, ...

2.3 Geographical distribution of demand

In order to visualize the geographical distribution of demand, two maps were created with the geographical distribution of new residential and nonresidential properties built in ****.

In terms of residential construction in ****, the Northwest of the peninsula garnered the highest share, accounting for **.* percent of the national total. This was followed by the Northeast and the South, where new residential construction accounted for **.* percent and **.* percent of the total. The Center collected **.* percent of the total while the Islands just *.* percent.

Analyzing new non-residential buildings, the Northeast collected the highest share nationwide in ****, accounting for **.*% of the total. This is followed by the Northwest and the South, with shares of **.*% and **.*%, respectively. In the Islands, new construction stands at **.* percent of the total while in the Center these are just **.* percent of the national total.

2.4 New demand trends: fiber cement

Fiber cement, a composite material made of cement reinforced with cellulose fibers (***), is experiencing increasing demand in various sectors, especially in construction. This increase in interest is due to several key factors. First of all, fiber cement is valued for its durability and strength. it is known to withstand adverse weather conditions such as heavy rains, winds, and thermal variations well, while maintaining its structural integrity over time. This makes it an ideal material for use in outdoor environments, such as roofing, siding, and building facades. Second, it is a relatively lightweight material compared to other building materials, which makes it easier to transport and install. This can significantly reduce labor and construction costs, making it an economical choice for many projects. Another important aspect of fiber cement is its versatility. It can be produced in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and can even be designed to resemble other materials, such as wood or stone. This aesthetic versatility makes it popular with architects and designers, who use it to create unique and customized aesthetics. Environmentally, fiber cement is considered a more sustainable choice than some other materials. The cellulose fibers used often come from renewable sources, and the manufacturing ...

3.1 The market structure

In ****, the cement supply chain in Italy involves ** enterprises with a total turnover exceeding *.* billion euros in ****. As for cement production, active enterprises under Ateco Code **.** "Cement production" are analyzed. In particular, the number of active enterprises, the number of employees in active enterprises and the legal form of activities are analyzed

Number of enterprises

From **** to ****, the number of active enterprises in cement production in Italy decreased from ** to **, registering a **.* percent contraction. After declining steadily until ****, the number of companies slightly rebounded in **** before falling again in ****.

Active enterprises under Ateco Code **.** "Cement production" Italy, ****-****, in number Istat

Employees From **** to ****, the number of employees in companies active in cement production in Italy decreased from *,*** to *,***, a decline of **.* percent. After a peak of *,*** employees in ****, the industry experienced a steady decline until ****, followed by a slight recovery in ****. Employment in active enterprises under Ateco Code **.** "Cement production" Italy, ****-****, in numbers Istat Legal form Finally, analyzing the legal form of different businesses, limited liability companies gather **.* percent of total businesses in ****. This is followed by joint stock companies with **.* percent. Sole proprietorships and limited partnerships both stand at *.* percent of the total, while other forms of businesses ...

3.2 The value chain

STEP *-PRODUCTION AND PREPARATION OF RAW MATERIALS

Extraction or procurement of various raw materials that can be either natural resources (***) to feed the kiln.

STAGE * - CLINKER PRODUCTION

Heating of the raw meal to evaporate water, decarbonate and form the main components of clinker (***).

Heat is produced from a mixture of conventional fuels and permitted alternative fuels (***).

Gas emissions are controlled on a continuous basis with abatement of relevant components (***) when necessary.

STAGE * - CEMENT PRODUCTION

Mixing and grinding of clinker with other raw materials (***).

QUALITY CONTROL

is carried out on all incoming materials and fuels, at each stage of the process, on the clinker and cement

3.3 The main manufacturers

The following is a list of the main players active in cement production in Italy:

HM Italia Cementi s.p.a: is a renowned company in the building materials sector, specializing in the production of cement. Founded in ****, the company has consolidated its presence in the Italian market through a combination of technological innovation and attention to product quality. Over the years, HM Italia Cementi has distinguished itself by its ability to adapt to the changing needs of the industry, always maintaining a high standard in its productions. Its headquarters are located in an industrial region of Italy, from which it coordinates a network of production and distribution facilities well distributed throughout the country. The company is also known for its commitment to environmental sustainability, adopting eco-friendly practices and investing in technologies to reduce the environmental impact of cement production. With more than ** years of experience, HM Italia Cementi S.p.A. is a key pillar in the building materials industry in Italy, a symbol of quality, innovation and environmental responsibility.

Buzzi Unicem s.p.a: founded in ****, is one of Italy's leading companies in the building materials industry, specializing in the production of cement and concrete. With a history spanning ...

4.1 Cement production in Italy

There are several types of cement in Italy. First of all all, the first distinction to be made is that between natural cements and artificial cements. The former are obtained from rocks of sedimentary origin (***) consisting mainly of clay, limestone and iron oxide. Artificial cements, on the other hand, are obtained from the selection of silica, aluminum and iron oxide according to predetermined quantities.

Portland cement

This is probably the best-known cement by far. It is obtained by grinding clinkers composed of hydraulic calcium silicates, with the addition of gypsum and anhydrite (***), which is dosed according to the quantities needed to regulate the hydration process. It is normally used in the preparation of concrete, i.e., the typical mortar for making the load-bearing structures of houses and buildings. In this case, cement is combined with two aggregates: sand and gravel.

Rapid White Cement

fast-setting cement is used in cases where the setting process needs to be very fast, i.e., all cases where, for example, one does not have the possibility of setting up a temporary support structure and must instead rely on the rapid hardening of the binder. In practice, the main caution that must always be adhered to is ...

4.2 The prices

In relation to cement prices in Italy, the producer price indexes for cement and concrete between **** and **** are analyzed. Between November **** and November ****, the producer price index for cement in Italy remained relatively stable, fluctuating between a low of ***.* and a high of *** in April ****. After a slight increase in early ****, prices showed a downward trend in the second half of the year, returning to end-**** levels.

Producer price index for cement Italy, ****-****, base ****=*** Istat

Between November **** and November ****, the producer price index for ready-mixed concrete in Italy increased from ***.* to ***.*, with a stable trend and slight growth concentrated in the first months of ****. The highest value was reached in September with ***.*, followed by a slight decline. Compared with the price trend for cement, which showed more variation and a more pronounced peak, concrete had a more gradual and less volatile increase. Producer price index for ready-mixed concrete Italy, ****-****, base ****=*** Istat

4.3 The Decarbonization of Industry

In ****, the European Union launchedthe Green Deal, a growth strategy aimed at transforming the EU into a resource-efficient, competitive and carbon neutral society by ****.

In Italy, the cement industry accounts for * percent of total national emissions. The industry produces a high amount of C** and **/**% of CO* production occurs in processes required for cement production. Despite this, the cement industry has defined its own decarbonization strategy that also has among its reference points the main guidelines developed internationally, including CEMBUREAU* and WBCSD*, in line with European targets to reduce CO* emissions by **% by ****.

Specifically, Scenario * is characterized by reduced reliance on natural gas, which by **** is expected to provide only **% of the total thermal energy used in the combustion process of cement plants, and reduced deployment of CCUS (***) technologies. The expected results in terms of CO* emission reduction to **** are a **% decrease in cement production. The decarbonization strategy involves the use of several operational levers i.e., targeted areas of intervention that will be able to enable the sector to reduce its carbon footprint. Specifically, the main decarbonization levers identified for the industry are: - Use of alternative fuels to replace fossil fuels: replacing fossil fuels with low-carbon fuels is one ...

5.1 Regulation

The following are the main legislative and regulatory aspects related to the production and marketing of cement in Italy:

The UNI EN ***-* standard divides cement into * main types:

I - Portland cement with a clinker percentage of at least **%; no subtype;

II - Composite Portland Cement (***) with a clinker percentage of at least **%; Composite Portland Cement having the following designations according to the type of additions:

Slag Portland cement (***): subtype abbreviations: II A/S, II B/S; Silica fume Portland cement(***): subtype abbreviation: II A/D; Pozzolan Portland cement: subtype abbreviation (***): II A/P, II B/P, IIA/Q, II B/Q; Fly ash Portland cement (***): subtype abbreviation: II A/V, II B/V, IIA/W, II B/W; Calcined shale Portland cement (***): subtype abbreviation: II A/T, II B/T; Limestone Portland cement(***): subtype abbreviation: II A/L, II B/L, II A/LL, II B/LL Composite Portland cement: subtype abbreviation: II A/M, II B/M;

III - Blast furnace cement with a percentage of blast furnace slag (***): subtype abbreviation: III A, III, B, III C

VI - Pozzolanic cement with pozzolanic material (***): subtype abbreviation: IV A, IV B

V - Composite cement obtained by simultaneous addition ...

5.2 Conclusion

The progressive concentration of the market highlights a natural selection of the sector. While this phenomenon can penalize the competition and innovation of small companies, it also strengthens the position of large groups, such as Buzzi Unicem, Colacem and HM Italia Cementi, which, thanks to economies of scale and targeted investments, can compete more effectively at the international level. The strength of these companies allows them to maintain stable production despite cost pressures and high volatility in the raw materials market.

The industry's ability to adapt to new environmental challenges is a key factor in its future competitiveness. The adoption of CO₂ capture technologies, the integration of alternative fuels, and the development of cements with lower environmental impact are key steps to align with the goals of the European Green Deal. However, the speed with which these innovations are being implemented is still insufficient compared to regulatory requirements and market expectations. In this context, access to green transition incentives and collaboration with European institutions could accelerate the process, reducing compliance costs for companies.

Despite growth in the supply chain's turnover, the sector faces structural criticalities that could limit its development. Dependence on cement imports makes Italy vulnerable to global price fluctuations ...

6.1 Segmentation

• Buzzi Unicem s.p.a
• HM Italia Cementi s.p.a
• Colacem s.p.a
• Cementerie Aldo Barbetti s.p.a
• Cementeria Costantinopoli s.r.l
• Cementi Moccia s.p.a