Estonia's precast concrete outlook weak

Estonian manufacturers of precast concrete panels and other products will lose export markets in Scandinavia, says Enno Rebane, CEO of the Association of Construction Material Producers of Estonia.

The negative impacts of surplus production capacity and price hikes (fuels by 40%; electricity by up to 40%; transport by 30%; and other input prices) are blamed.

Rebane says the forecast 10-20% rise in the sales of construction materials in 2011 will not close the gap from the 50-75% drop in the sales of construction materials in 2010 compared with 2007/2008.