Peru’s overall cement sales rose 10.64% in 2005 to 5Mt from the 4.5Mt sold in 2004, as the economy continued to expand, the National Association of Cement Producers (Asocem) said.

In December, cement sales totaled 452,700t, a 15.5% increase from December 2004.

Cementos Lima led the sales in December, selling 197,789t of cement, which includes 31,054t for export, the association said. Over the course of the year, Cementos Lima sold 2,425,233t of cement, including 673,752t for export.