Economic survey 2018: stone and ceramic industry with a turnover plus

Rising costs, companies can make to create – Austrian Federal economic chamber-trade Association calls for open, objective discussions in the LCA and guarantees of Origin in building materials

Vienna (OTS) – The trade Association for the stone and ceramic industry of the Austrian chamber of Commerce today presented the results of its year to year in the more than 300 member companies conducted business survey. „We have seen in the year 2018, sales growth of 4.6% to EUR 3.52 billion. Almost all sub-sectors of our industry were able to increase sales,“ says managing Director Andreas cob. The survey also showed that a strong increase in logistics, energy and personnel costs massively on the result button. Nevertheless, the number of employees increased by 2.8%.

Building construction industry in the effort – civil engineering falters

As in previous years, the growth is primarily due to the urban construction of housing and commercial construction was driven activities between Vienna and Salzburg. „That part was already worked to the capacity limits. Many companies have had to contend with a veritable logistics problems. Transport capacities were sometimes not available,“ stressed the cob. The civil engineering sector grew moderately, but fell against the building construction.

The most important industry results

A growth above the industry average were recorded in the export oriented refractory industry (+13.0 percent), the ready-mixed concrete industry (+12.1%), and the concrete – and precast industry (+6,3%). Below-average bulk goods gravel (+1.9%) and Sand-gravel (+0.4%) and the plaster and mortar industry (+0,8%). Losses of the fine ceramic industry (-4.2%), the lime industry (-2.3%) and the natural stone industry (-2,0%).

Rising costs and the threat of market intervention to weigh on sector

Trade Association Chairman Manfred Asamer, the loads are increased in the area of logistics (transport and fuel) by up to 15%, the CO2-prices have quadrupled in the last year. In addition, the current price zone Germany-Austria attracted since the separation, the prices of electricity up to 30%.

In addition to the rising costs, the industry is faced continually with the threat of intervention in the free market and the denigration of their products. Particularly annoying is the endless discussion on the environmental sustainability of construction products, which is not always open and honest. „What is set in the case of mineral raw materials in the production of CO2, takes place with other building materials at the end of the life cycle. The balance sheet is the bottom line. We hope that, in the context of the Bioeconomy strategy of objectivity and the consideration of the entire life cycle“, Asamer.

The Association calls, in this context, the long-overdue designation of origin for construction materials, the Transport in the LCA.

Energy policy, locational disadvantages, and clean up

Andreas cob sees in terms of energy policy, pent-up demand. „The separation of the current price zone between Germany and Austria must be repealed or the enormous price increases are corrected by compensation. For this purpose, the in the price of Electricity contained in the CO2-costs from the EU emissions trading system, similar to the German model, will be refunded.“

Welcomes the announcement by the Federal government to make the green energy regime in the future market. Cob draws attention to the fact that the European environmental and energy guidelines for energy-intensive companies the opportunity to lids exuberant green electricity subsidy contributions. „Austria does not make use of it, which we have compared to neighbouring countries, a significant location disadvantage“, appealed to the cob, this disadvantage.

Outlook 2019: sideways movement expected.

Manfred Asamer closes with an Outlook 2019: „the mood in The industry is positive, further increases in sales, however, are hardly possible any more. We expect for the coming year is only a sideward movement“. (PWK138/PM)

DMC – Data & Media Center
economic chamber of Austria
T 0590 900 – 4462
E DMC_PR@wko.at

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