BRUSSELS, 31 October 2026 — Türkiye and Algeria increased their relative shares of European Union cement and clinker imports in the first six months of 2026, while Ukraine and Egypt accounted for smaller proportions of the market. The shift in supplier distribution is occurring as the EU’s definitive Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regime begins to affect the commercial environment for carbon-intensive construction materials.
Statistics published by Cement Europe on 30 October, covering January to June 2026, show Türkiye at 48.2% of EU cement and clinker import volumes. This compares with 44.4% in the same period of 2025. Algeria’s share rose from 11.2% to 14.8% over the same timeframe.
The changes amounted to gains of 3.8 percentage points for Türkiye and 3.6 percentage points for Algeria. By contrast, Ukraine’s share fell from 14.2% to 9.9%, while Egypt’s declined from 10.2% to 6.0%. The figures show a redistribution of import market shares among external suppliers, but they do not establish whether carbon-border costs were responsible for the movements.
Mediterranean suppliers expand presence in EU deliveries
Türkiye remained the leading external supplier of cement and clinker to the EU, with its share rising to nearly half of total import volumes. The report links access to European customers to proximity to southern European markets, established production capacity and maritime export infrastructure.
Because cement and clinker are low-value and heavy commodities, transportation expenses and port access are described as significant elements of delivered costs. The report notes that freight-rate variations, regional construction activity and availability of exportable production can affect relative competitiveness among suppliers.
Algeria also increased its position, reaching 14.8% of EU import volumes. Its Mediterranean location is cited as providing access to southern European destinations, alongside factors including export infrastructure and production costs.
The first-half statistics are presented alongside a broader context in which production emissions and carbon-related expenses are becoming more important for market participants. However, the data do not demonstrate that Türkiye’s or Algeria’s market-share gains were driven by CBAM, as construction demand, international energy prices and supplier inventories also changed during the period.
Ukraine and Egypt reduce shares of EU cement imports
Ukraine’s share of EU cement and clinker imports declined to 9.9% from 14.2% in the first half of 2025. The report says Ukraine’s industrial and export performance remains exposed to war-related effects including production interruptions, infrastructure damage, transportation constraints and changes in domestic demand.
It adds that these factors may influence the availability and movement of Ukrainian cement and clinker independently of EU carbon-border requirements. On that basis, the reported decline is described as not attributable directly to CBAM without separating carbon-cost effects from other production and logistics conditions.
Egypt’s share fell from 10.2% to 6.0%. The report attributes shifts in Egypt’s export competitiveness to domestic production economics, fuel expenditure, international freight rates and demand in alternative export destinations.
It also notes that changes in regional trading conditions can affect how Egyptian cargoes are allocated between European and non-European markets. While country-level figures indicate a change in the composition of EU imports, they do not provide a complete explanation for individual supplier performance.
Western Balkans: Bosnia, Montenegro rise; Serbia declines
The Cement Europe figures also include information on Southeast European countries’ positions in EU cement and clinker trade. Bosnia and Herzegovina increased its share of EU imports from 2.8% to 3.3%, a gain of 0.5 percentage points.
The report states that published percentages do not show whether Bosnia’s absolute export volumes increased. It then cites separate January to June 2026 figures on EU exports of cement and clinker to Western Balkan destinations.
Bosnia and Herzegovina accounted for 8.1% of EU export destinations compared with 5.1% in the corresponding period of 2025. Montenegro’s share rose from 2.3% to 2.8%, while North Macedonia’s increased from 1.3% to 2.2%.
Serbia moved in the opposite direction, with its share declining from 3.2% to 2.9%. The report clarifies that these percentages refer to EU exports to those countries rather than exports originating there entering the Union.
CBAM enters force; emissions costs depend on product data
The EU’s definitive CBAM regime entered into force on 1 January 2026, covering specified cement and clinker products alongside other carbon-intensive goods. Its stated purpose is to align carbon costs associated with covered imports with those borne by European producers under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
For non-EU cement manufacturers, commercial considerations highlighted include installation-level production emissions, product classifications, emissions calculation methodologies and applicable carbon-cost adjustments. The mechanism is also described as operating alongside a progressive reduction of free EU ETS allowances.
The report says importer financial exposure cannot be calculated simply by multiplying embedded emissions by the full CBAM certificate price without accounting for adjustments. It also cites a latest published CBAM certificate price for the third quarter of 2026 at €82.32 per tonne of CO₂ equivalent.
Importers are described as needing to distinguish between legally covered eight-digit Combined Nomenclature (CN) classifications and broader customs chapters used in general industry statistics. Cement Europe is said to report combined cement and clinker import shares, but country-level percentages are described as insufficient for calculating CBAM liability at supplier level without product detail.
Verified emissions data affect supplier comparisons
The report states that producers able to demonstrate lower actual emissions using applicable independently verified production data may face different carbon-cost calculations than suppliers whose liabilities rely on prescribed default values. It adds that installations with higher emissions intensity may face greater exposure as CBAM obligations develop.
The impact on delivered prices is described as depending on installation-specific emissions, the applicable methodology and how carbon-related expenses are reflected in contractual arrangements between suppliers and EU importers.
For European cement manufacturers assessing competition from Mediterranean producers, changing external supply composition is presented as additional context for evaluating market dynamics under CBAM-linked cost pressures. For exporters outside the Union, maintaining competitive delivered prices is described as requiring reliable production-emissions information alongside efficient manufacturing and transportation arrangements.
A more detailed comparison of supplier competitiveness is described as requiring absolute shipment volumes, customs values in euros, implied prices per tonne, freight expenditure, product classifications and verified installation-level emissions data. The first-half market-share figures are said to establish redistribution in EU cement and clinker imports but do not independently quantify CBAM’s contribution to those changes.