The World Cement Association (WCA) warns cement prices in Europe could triple or even quadruple under current policy settings, cautioning that decarbonisation costs risk placing a heavy burden on both industry and consumers.
Speaking at the European Cement Decarbonisation Summit 2025 in Frankfurt, WCA Director Emir Adiguzel says the combination of rising energy costs, overcapacity, and tightening carbon pricing schemes could threaten the competitiveness of producers, particularly independent players.
Adiguzel told delegates the industry faces significant pressure as most carbon-related costs are being passed through to the end market.
The WCA presented new analysis showing that US$200 billion ($306 billion) in investment will be needed by 2050 to decarbonise global cement production.
Between 2019 and 2023, leading producers cut carbon intensity from 700kg CO₂ per tonne to 640kg – progress the association says proves emissions can be reduced with the right incentives.
However, Adiguzel cautions that carbon capture technology remains prohibitively expensive, requiring investment that can exceed the cost of an entire cement plant.
Instead, the WCA urged policymakers and industry leaders to accelerate four underutilised levers of decarbonisation: energy efficiency, alternative fuels, reduced clinker content, and emerging low-carbon technologies such as electrification and heat storage.
The association also questioned the effectiveness of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism in driving real emissions reductions among exporters outside the scheme.
“Cement is irreplaceable material, vital for the infrastructure that underpins a green economy,” Adiguzel concludes.
Adiguzel adds real progress will depend on governments and industry working together to enable a fair, sustainable transition toward low-carbon cement.
Images: WCA & Unsplash
