The Spanish construction market has shown remarkable resilience. Cement consumption increased by 9.7% in the first nine months of the year, according to Holcim Spain CEO Ricardo de Pablos in a recent interview. Nevertheless, he pointed out that this growth was concentrated in specific areas and did not make up for Spain's long-standing housing deficit. In order to stabilize the market and ease the rise of housing prices, about 200000 to 80000 new housing units will need to be built every year in the next 100 years.
According to Oficemen, an industry group, cement consumption will increase by 8% to 9% to about 16 million tons this year. However, Holcim's chief executive believes the figure should be closer to 19 million to 20 million tonnes in Spain's current situation.
Decarbonization is the biggest challenge facing the industry. The first major climate challenge of 2030 is less than five years away and has moved from a conceptual to an operational level, de Pablos noted. The industry strategy is based on the so-called "five-C approach", which promotes cooperation throughout the value chain of the industry, including the use of alternative raw materials and fuels, the reduction of clinker factors, and the development of carbon dioxide capture technologies.
Holcim's commitment to innovation is reflected in an investment of approximately CHF 225 million in 2024. The company has four cement plants, 23 concrete plants and more than 1,000 employees in Spain, mainly in Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia.
In his first year as CEO, de Pablos provided a positive summary of the company's performance, highlighting progress on circular economy targets, the successful integration of acquired companies, and the introduction of the first 100% electric truck, which further underpins Holcim's commitment to sustainability and the transformation of the construction industry.