13 January 2026 - Face Challenges with Steadfast Action: New Year Message from WCA President
Dear colleagues in the global cement industry, greetings to you all!
As we bid farewell to the old and usher in the new year, I would like, on behalf of the World Cement Association (WCA), to extend my sincere greetings and warmest wishes to cement industry professionals worldwide, as well as all stakeholders and partners who support the industry's development.
Looking back on 2025, the global cement industry remained resilient amid change and continued to move forward in the face of multiple challenges.
According to On Field Investment Research, a leading cement industry consultancy, global cement volumes declined by an estimated 1.5% in 2025 but increased by 3.3% (when China is excluded). Cement production in China, the world’s largest cement producer, reached approximately 1.69 billion tonnes, representing a year-on-year decline of around 7.4%. Global cement prices in 2025 showed clear regional variation. Prices generally rose across Europe, with most countries in Eastern and Northern Europe recording increases of between 5% and 12%. Prices in East Asia declined by around 4%, while Southeast Asia saw an increase of approximately 5%. The Middle East and North Africa experienced an increase of about 5%, while Latin America recorded a slight decline of around 1%.
Despite the introduction of new tariffs, there were no major changes to seaborne cement and clinker trading routes or supply sourcing in 2025. Global import and export flows totalled around 230 million tonnes, including an estimated 150–170 million tonnes of seaborne cement and clinker trade. Overall, tariffs did not significantly reshuffle global trade patterns. Instead, changes in trade flows were driven primarily by geopolitical risks and shifts in domestic supply and demand dynamics.
Looking ahead to 2026, global cement capacity is expected to remain in surplus, while overall demand is likely to remain broadly stable. Demand in Europe is expected to recover moderately from low levels. The US market is anticipated to remain stable, while Latin America should achieve steady growth. Stronger growth is expected across the Middle East, Africa, and South-West Asia.
Currently, policies and momentum related to climate change and carbon regulation are beginning to diverge and, in some cases, come into conflict. In Europe, commitments to deploy carbon capture and storage (CCS) remain firm. By contrast, in the United States, momentum behind CCS has weakened due to the current administration reducing public subsidies that are key to financing CCS projects. However, under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), exporters and importers of cement and clinker will have to consider decarbonising supply chains in emerging markets in order to maintain their long-term access to developed markets. Additionally, the cement industry was included in the scope of China’s carbon market in 2025 and will start participating in compliance trading from 2026 onwards.
From a broader perspective, the global cement industry is undergoing rapid transformation, with significant shifts in the market structure and changes in the ranking of leading enterprises. In Africa and Southeast Asia, as some multinational companies withdraw, regional players and Chinese companies are expanding to fill the gap. Currently, eight of the world’s top ten cement producers are based in Asia, reflecting the evolving reality of the industry's shifting center.
As the world continues to navigate volatility, cement producers and stakeholders across different regions face varying degrees of pressure related to innovation, implementation of solutions, and emissions reduction. Against the backdrop of persistent overcapacity, sustained pricing pressure, narrowing profit margins, and increasing demands to reduce costs and improve efficiency, alongside new opportunities arising from the industry’s transition towards low-carbon and green development, knowledge and insight sharing across companies and regions has never been more important.
WCA and its members must work together to build a more open and collaborative, development landscape. The WCA will also continue to strengthen its role and services for both its members and the wider industry in the following three areas:
First, by continuing to promote industry interaction through the organising of the WCA annual conference, technical webinars, and other in person and online events. These events bring together global expertise; facilitate cross-regional and cross-company knowledge sharing; and support enterprise development.
Second, strengthening technological empowerment, with a focus on key areas such as new energy applications, digital transformation, and low-carbon solutions. By promoting advanced technologies and practical solutions, we aim to support organisations in reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
Third, we will promote cooperation and communication with regional and national cement associations; strengthen information exchange and coordination on key social responsibility issues; and enhance the industry's social recognition and acceptance from multiple dimensions.
Simultaneously, we recognise that the scope of stakeholders within the cement industry is continuously expanding. Producers and traders of cement, aggregates, and concrete; equipment suppliers; engineering and logistics companies; and providers of new energy and digital technologies are all essential participants, contributors, and beneficiaries of WCA’s reform efforts. In this new era, the WCA must take responsibility and strive to serve as an information sharing platform, a consulting and advisory platform, a new energy and digital promotion platform, and a support platform for independent innovation across the global cement industry.
Colleagues, in the year ahead, challenges will coexist with opportunities, and difficulties will go hand in hand with hope. In the face of uncertainty, we must not retreat or hesitate. Instead, we must move forward with a more inclusive mindset, a more open perspective, greater enthusiasm, and a more pragmatic and proactive approach. Let us join hands to write a new chapter in the sustainable development of the global cement industry!