In January 2026, Europe’s cement industry finds itself amid structural transformation. Against a backdrop of declining construction activity and a growing shortage of strategic raw materials — particularly granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and air-cooled blast furnace slag (ACS) — producers are ramping up investments in logistics and carbon-reduction technologies.
Medcem in Trieste: a new logistics hub for slag-based SCMs
On 13 January 2026, Turkish company Medcem Cement Group commissioned a new cement terminal at the Port of Trieste, Italy, with a handling capacity of up to 120,000 tonnes per year. The facility was developed in partnership with Seadock (Samer Group) on a previously unused industrial site.
🔗 GlobalCement, 12.01.2026
Analysts suggest the terminal could become a key entry point for GBFS imports from Turkey, as blast furnace output — and thus slag availability — continues to decline across the EU.
FutureCem in Munich: GBFS and ACS at the heart of decarbonisation
On 21–22 January 2026, Munich hosted the 6th Global FutureCem Conference, focused on decarbonising the cement industry. GBFS and ACS were highlighted as among the most effective supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) for reducing CO₂ emissions without compromising performance.
🔗 GlobalCement – FutureCem 2026
Participants also discussed the role of artificial intelligence in optimising slag cement grinding and the need for secure access to secondary raw materials.
Construction slows, but GBFS demand remains strong
According to Eurostat, construction activity in the EU fell by 1.1% in November 2025 compared to October, with the sharpest declines in Hungary, Slovenia, and Romania.
🔗 GMK Center, 21.01.2026
Despite this, demand for GBFS and ACS remains high, driven by the shift toward low-carbon cements where these materials serve as key clinker substitutes.