The producer price index for April, published by INEGI last week, reported an increase of 0.4% in the price of cement in Mexico. Cemex, Apasco, Cruz Azul and Montezuma have raised their prices between 1-4% per month so far this year.

According to analysts at brokerage Acciones y Valores-Banamex, Cemex is asking for MXN113.23/bag (US$9.6), Apasco MXN108.56, Cruz Azul MXN103.60 and Montezuma at MXN105.83.  May saw an average increase of 0.2% per year, leaving average retail prices in Mexico at around MXN114 per bag.

In terms of regional variations, Aguascalientes and Monterrey saw the price for cement drop by around 2% and Merida by 1%. However, in Guadalajara and Mexico City, buyers had to pay around 1% more for a bag than they would have the previous month. In Tijuana and Chihuahua, the price for a bag of cement rose by about 2%.