Vietnam is predicted to experience a shortage of around 6.5Mt of cement in 2005, mainly due to low production capacity of local cement manufacturers and increasing demand for the product.
The country will consume 29Mt of cement next year, while its production is estimated at 22-23Mt, the Vietnam National Cement Corporation (VNCC) said.
To deal with the expected shortage, Vietnam will intensify clinker imports from ASEAN and non-ASEAN countries, accelerate the construction of new cement plants, and renew technologies of existing ones. It needs US$3bn in the 2004-2008 period to construct 16 cement factories with total designed capacity of 25Mt to meet its demand by 2010, said the VNCC.
