Brazilian Companhia Cimento Tupi, controlled by the group CP Cimento e Participacoes, will start to export next June, initially targeting at the US. The company is investing R$15m resources in the improvement of the terminal owned by Valesul in the Port of Sepetiba (Rio de Janeiro state) and expects that exports may increase turnover by R$45m in 2005. Between January and September 2004, Cimento Tupi reported an income of R$209m or 64.3 per cent of net turnover. Besides owning Cimento Tupi, CP Cimento e Participacoes holds CCRG (Companhia de Cimento Ribeirao Grande) and further 17 concrete units. The group turns over R$600m per year and the Volta Redonda (Rio de Janeiro), Pedra do Sino (Minas Gerais) and Mogi das Cruzes plant (Sao Paulo) own capacity of 2.4Mta. Meanwhile the company expects domestic sales of 1Mt tons and external sales of 300,000t, planning to export 600,000t as of 2006, to reach 800,000t by 2007.  

The Brazilian cement industry exported 550,000t last year out of a production of 34Mta. CP Cimento ranks 7th in the domestic market with a five per cent share, also producing 0.6Mm3 of concrete per year (20% of turnover).