Cement clinkers market in Italy

Earlier Report Observations

The Italian cement clinkers market volume grew from 1.6 million tons in 2018 to 2.3 million tons in 2024, primarily driven by a sustained surge in imports from outside the European Union. Competitive pressure from extra-EU suppliers was already noted in 2018 and intensified over the period, with imports rising by 43% in cement and reaching 1.33 million tons of clinker in the first nine months of 2024, directly expanding total market supply.

Domestic clinker production more than halved during this period, largely due to the industry's strategic shift toward low-carbon cement technologies. Major manufacturers like Cementir, Buzzi Unicem, and Heidelberg Materials Italia launched innovative products such as FUTURECEM® and CGreen, which replace up to 40% of clinker with supplementary materials. This transition was accelerated by revised European standards (UNI EN 197-5/197-6) promoting cements with lower clinker content, aligning with national decarbonization goals.

The market faced logistical disruptions and price volatility in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, regulatory changes like the End-of-Waste rule for construction and demolition waste (enacted in November 2022) enabled the use of recycled aggregates in clinker production, supporting a circular economy approach while import competition continued to reshape the market landscape.

Production cement clinkers in Italy

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In Italy, cement clinker production was valued at 55 688 thousand US dollars in 2020, marking a 20.6% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 21.6%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -7.8%. The lowest value occurred in 2018 at 55 052 thousand US dollars. The sharpest decline was in 2018 at 22.5%, while the largest increase was in 2019 at 27.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Italy in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Italy produced 1 227 thousand tonnes of cement clinkers in 2020, a 26.1% drop compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production decreased by 32.8%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -12.4%. The most significant decline was in 2018 at 27.7%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 25.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Italy in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports cement clinkers from Italy

Exports in kind, K t

Cement clinker exports from Italy declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 177.0 thousand tonnes, showing little change from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell by 29%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -10.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Italy in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Albania dominated Italy's cement clinker exports in volume, accounting for 81.8% of total shipments, while numerous smaller partners made up the remainder.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Italy in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Cement clinker exports from Italy declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 9 265 thousand US dollars, a slight decrease of 0.8% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports dropped by 11.9%, equivalent to an annualized rate of -4.2%. The peak value was in 2018 at 10 588 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 11.8%, while the biggest increase was in 2018 at 0.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Italy in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Albania, Switzerland, and Germany were the main destinations for Italy's cement clinker exports by value. Albania accounted for 59.8%, Switzerland for 14.7%, and Germany for 5.4%, together making up 79.9% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Italy in value, 2017-2020

Imports cement clinkers to Italy

Imports in kind, K t

Cement clinker imports into Italy increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 679.3 thousand tonnes, a strong rise of 10.8% compared to the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 73.6%, equating to an annualized rate of 20.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Italy in kind, 2017-2020, K t

During 2017-2020, Slovenia and Turkey consistently represented 88.0% of Italy's cement clinker imports by volume, indicating high market concentration alongside a range of smaller suppliers.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Italy in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of growth, cement clinker imports into Italy declined. In 2020, import value was recorded at 36 953 thousand US dollars, a moderate drop of 3.4% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 74.3%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.3%. The highest value was in 2019 at 38 260 thousand US dollars, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 41.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Italy in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Slovenia, Turkey, and France were the primary suppliers of cement clinkers to Italy by value. Slovenia contributed 51.1%, Turkey 28.8%, and France 8.2%, together accounting for 88.1% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Italy in value, 2017-2020