The Vietnamese Ministry of Construction chaired a workshop yesterday in Hanoi with participation of all cement producers nationwide to adjust the national cement development plan approved by the government in November 2002.  Local cement demand has risen more rapidly than the country’s initial forecast over the past years. This trend is to continue, so Vietnam should give its priority to cement production expansion by building more large-scale cement factories. The ministry also told the workshop that Vietnam would diversify cement varieties and promote the production of PCB 40 cement, pour more investment into clinker production.

Initial forecasts had showed cement demand in Vietnam at nearly 30Mt in 2005, 49Mt in 2010 from 25.5-26Mt this year. However, the ministry now expects the figures to be considerably higher.  From now until 2020, the country will need total investment of $5.58 billion for cement projects.