Chile aims to increase its cement sales to 4.0Mt in 2005, an increase of 6.0 per cent year-on-year, it was reported on October 11, 2005. The sales figure shows an increase compared to the all-time high 3.8Mt, sold in 1998. The sector has been encouraged by the rising sales and investments so far in 2005. Cement sales increased to around 2.6Mt so far in 2005, up 5.4 per cent year-on-year. Higher demand was pushed up by both private and public housing and infrastructure projects in the country.
The leading companies on the Chilean cement market are Cementos Melon, with a share of 35.2 per cent, Polpaico, with 34.9 per cent, and Cementos Bio-Bio, with 29.9 per cent. Chile’s domestic cement sales grew to 3.7Mt in 2004, up 4.9 per cent year-on-year.
