Peru cement sales on the local market increased by 8.4 per cent YoY in May 2005 to 329,149t, the local association of cement makers Asocem said.

The increase was attributed to the higher sales of the largest cement makers Cementos Lima and Cementos Yura.  The cement sales in the first five months of 2005 increased 4.5 pct year-on-year to 1.68Mt. 

Peru’s cement exports stood at 259,763t for January to May 2005, almost unchanged YoY. 

Peru’s total cement sales, including exports and sales on the domestic market, increased to 1.94Mt for January to May 2005, from 1.86Mt for the same period of 2004. 

The sales of Cementos Lima increased most in May 2005, up 13.8 pct year-on-year, due to housing programmes and road infrastructure works. The sales of Cementos Pacasmayo increased 6.0 pct year-on-year in May 2005.