In 2007 the commercialization of grey cement in the country was of 4’443.509 tons, which represents a growth of 7,3% in respect to 2006. The Ecuadorian Cement and Concrete Institute shares with the FICEM-APCAC members a report on the cement industry in this country.

The cement industry in Ecuador has its origins in 1923 when the Industries and Constructions Company installed the first plant in the city of, with a production of 3.000 tons/year.

In the country, four companies produce cement, two private ones and two belonging to government institutions. One of the companies HOLCIM Ecuador, has two plants, one of which, San Rafael only functions for milling. The cement companies are listed in the bellow chart and in the map their location is pointed.

CEMENT PLANTS LOCATION

The national industry supplies 100% of the grey cement that is used in the country, being the Portland IP cement, which is elaborated under the INEN 490 (ASTM C 595) Norm, the one of highest commercialization, pure cements type I and II as well as on performance HE can be obtained upon request, white and special cements are imported.

In 2007 the commercialization of grey cement in the country was of 4’443.509 tons, which represents a growth of 7,3% in respect to 2006.

In the following chart the market growth and the per capita consumption from the year 2000 is shown, heightening the fact that the market grew 61% between 2000 and 2007, and the per capita consumption went from 225 Kg/inhabitant to 327 Kg/inhabitant.

Table Title: CONSUMPTION GROWTH FROM 2000; y: Tons- Kg/ Inhabitant)

In 2006 the national industry filled its clinker production capacity, not the case for milling, reason for which starting that year it is only imported to supply the national demand.

All companies have their expansion plans, heightening the works that the LAFARGE group is developing since the end of 2006 in its Otavalo plant, which will be completed this year, 2008, with the implementation of a new production line that will allow it to double its cement production capacity, going from 800.000 to 1’600.000 tons.

The national government has repeatedly announced its intention of fortifying its companies, so that in a near future they can substantially increment their capacity.       

The country is geographically divided into four regions Coastal, Mountain Range, Amazon, and Insular, the consumption in these, in 2007, is shown in the following chart

(COMMERCIALIZATION PER REGIONS; THOUSANDS OF TONS)