The World Cement Association (WCA) has expressed concern that cement prices could triple or quadruple under current European policies.
Speaking at the recent two-day European Cement Decarbonisation Summit 2025 in Frankfurt, WCA’s director Emir Adiguzel highlighted key challenges facing the industry, such as rising energy costs, growing global overcapacity and the effects of carbon pricing.
“Cement prices will triple if not quadruple with these policies in Europe,” Adiguzel warned, noting the significant costs that decarbonisation measures will place on the construction sector and end consumers. Most carbon-related costs will be passed to consumers, with carbon pricing becoming a “selling imperative” for price increases across the industry.
The WCA’s latest analysis was presented, indicating that the cement sector will require US$200 billion in investment by 2050 to fully decarbonise. Between 2019 and 2023, leading global firms reduced carbon intensity from an average of 700kg CO₂/tonne to 640kg CO₂/tonne, demonstrating that progress is achievable with the right support mechanisms.
While acknowledging that carbon capture projects “must continue if applied correctly”, he emphasised that these technologies will have a limited effect on global industry decarbonisation. Adiguzel’s presentation highlighted that current carbon capture technology requires investment exceeding the capital cost of an entire cement plant, with significant development still needed for scalability.
There are four key levers for decarbonisation that remain largely underused by the sector, including better energy efficiency. This can include waste heat recovery, advanced process control and AI optimisation. Using alternative fuels is another, such as increased use of biogenic fuels and higher thermal substitution rates.
A greater use of natural pozzolans is possible. Pozzolans are a broad class of siliceous and aluminous materials which, in themselves, possess little or no cementitious value. However, they will, in finely divided form and in the presence of water, react chemically with calcium hydroxide at ordinary temperature to form compounds possessing cementitious properties.
New technologies for carbon capture and storage, electrification and heat storage solutions is another area where their use could make cement production more sustainable.
Adiguzel also raised concerns about the effectiveness of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to incentivise non-scheme exporters to reduce their carbon footprint, particularly given the expensive investments required.
Adiguzel emphasised that the cement industry must engage actively with governments to promote policies that incentivise a healthy transition to a low-carbon, low-clinker future. “Cement is an irreplaceable material, vital for the infrastructure that underpins a green economy,” Adiguzel concluded. “This journey will require more than just plans, it demands collaborative action across the entire value chain.”
