Brazil’s industrial group Votorantim’s cement production arm, Votorantim Cimentos, invested 4.5 mln Brazilian reais ($1.8m) in a distribution centre in Salvador, in the northeastern state of Bahia. The centre, which will distribute Votorantim’s production to 700 points-of-sales in the state of Bahia, is expected to lead to an improvement of the company’s results by between 20 pct and 25 pct.

Votorantim Cimentos registered sales of 4.8 bln reais ($1.882bneuro) in 2004. According to the company’s commercial director, Marcelo Chama, Bahia is Votorantim Cementos’ fifth largest market in the country. The state’s cement consumption is estimated at 150,000 tonnes per month and there Votorantim holds a 60 pct market share.