The local construction material market is expected to remain stable for the rest of the year with the industry ensuring a sufficient supply of steel and cement to match the growing demand. According to the Vietnam Cement Corporation, demand for cement has been growing rapidly. In the first eight months of this year, the corporation supplied 16.6Mt, an increase of 13.2 per cent compared with the same period last year. In an effort to meet the peak demand at the end of the year, the corporation imported more clinker to boost cement production. It also stockpiled 1Mt of clinker, and 200,000t of bagged cement. The construction and transport ministries also ensured the transport of 1.8Mt of cement from the north to the south to offset a shortage in the region.
Deputy Minister of Construction Tong Van Nga said the efforts had helped stabilise the market. But in case of a cement shortage, he said, priority would be given to major infrastructure construction projects like roads, bridges and low-income housing complexes.
