Cement industry cashes in on real-estate boom

In 2006 the market absorbed 14.5 million tons of cement, but according to Luc Callebat the president of Lafarge Cement, sales may double within several years. "We estimate that the sector will have to allocate zl.800 million to zl.1 billion for investments," stated Callebat. Lafarge Cement produces around 3.3 million tons of cement a year and plans to increase production by 15% as compared to 2006. Similar to other producers, it also wants to increase the price of its products this year. "We are planning a price increase of zl.25-30 per ton as compared to the current net prices," admitted Luc Callebat. However, the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) decided that the price increase would have an adverse impact on the market and initiated anti-monopoly proceedings against 11 cement producers accusing them of price fixing. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 8) E.B.