UNICEM once again warns of the consequences for the profession of the abolition of the reduced rate of internal tax on the consumption of energy products (TICPE) on non-road diesel (GNR).
Committed players recognized for their actions in favor of the preservation of biodiversity, the short circuit supply of construction sites and the reduction of the carbon footprint, UNICEM members are aware that the ban on Next July 1, the GNR is intended to encourage industries to “green” the motorization of construction machinery. However, this development is still marginal, if not impossible to implement. Indeed, “green” solutions, supposed to promote the evolution of uses within the sector, simply do not exist at present: this offer is non-existent in the catalogs of the main international manufacturers.
Consequently, this change in regulations will result in an increase in their costs in the short term, with no real means of escaping them.
Maintaining the decision would add to the uncertainties associated with RE2020
For the quarry and construction materials industries, 90% made up of SMEs and VSEs, the increase in the price of fuel will be extremely heavy to bear financially after a year 2020 marked by repeated episodes of containment and the implementation of protocols. linked to health constraints. The materials sector was therefore very heavily impacted in the first half of 2020 (-17% activity). Even if he recovered in the second, making up for part of the accumulated delay, he was however unable to make up for the plunge recorded in the first half of the year. The production of aggregates in 2020 fell by nearly 7% compared to 2019. That of ready-mixed concrete fell by more than 9%.
The forecasts for 2021 do not reflect a catching up in activity. The rebound would be almost zero and activity levels would remain identical to those of 2020, much lower than those of 2019: worrying signals for professionals in the sector. For the two main markets for the quarrying and building materials industries, public works and construction, the outlook for 2021 also suggests activity levels which, despite some rebound, will remain well below those of 2019.
In public works, order books are slow to fill up, especially on the public customer side, and calls for tenders are showing decreases of -25%. As for the building, permits still recorded in January drops of -16% for housing (cumulative over the last twelve months) and -19% for business premises.
In the context of the health and economic crises, the member companies of UNICEM have made every effort to preserve jobs in the heart of the territories and keep their industrial facilities in operation to have the capacity to meet the demand of their construction customers. and support government efforts to maintain a certain level of activity. They would not include maintaining the decision to abolish RNG as it stands, which would add to the uncertainties linked to the entry into force of the RE2020 standard in the coming months: prospects likely to cast a shadow on the economy. future of many players in the sector.
UNICEM therefore asks the Government to show common sense in order to support companies in the sector by maintaining the use of Non-Road Diesel.