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Due to the inertia of last decade's construction boom, construction activity in Spain has still led to 387,075 housing certifications in 2009. This compares with only 220,633 new homes sold the same year, resulting in a disturbing rise of new unsold housing.

Although this building approval figure in 2009 contrasts with that of 2007, which at the height of the construction boom was 641,419 new homes, it is still well above current demand.

These figures reinforce the idea that the immediate future of the Spanish ceramic sector rests not on a return to high levels of demand but on the development of new formats, manufacturing products with more advanced finished for builders and competing with other building materials.

Beginning this February issue, the BERALMAR Newsletter will also available in Russian. Now our Russian-speaking contacts and friends will have easy access to the news we publish.

Russian is the official language in five countries, but it is widely spoken in 13 other countries for historical reasons.

Whoever is already receiving the newsletter in another language and wishes to start receiving it in Russian, the Newsletter language option may be changed at the foot of each Newsletter.

The 2010 INDIAN CERAMICS FAIR will be held from March 2 to 4 at the Karnavati Club in Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India). Those interested in visiting the fair may claim their invitation from BERALMAR to enter the grounds by printing the file at the foot of this news item.

See you in Ahemdabad!

BERALMAR has just received its first order for a solids combustion unit Ukraine.

It is a PROMATIC system which will be installed in the tunnel kiln at the KIRPICHNIY ZAVOD VOLOCHISK ceramic factory near the city of Ternopil, in the west of the country.

The PROMATIC system will be fuelled by coal, contributing 100% of the energy needs of tunnel kiln for production of about 200 tons per day of various products..

With this order, Ukraine becomes the 16th country where the PROMATIC system is installed.