The price of cement will not be increase this year despite demand from cement producers, affirmed Deputy Construction Minister To Van Nga at a meeting to stabilise the cement price in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday. Nga Advised that increasing the cement price at this time would cause negative impacts on socio-economic development and create conditions for the illegal import of cement, which would put cement producers, not consumers, in a difficult situation.
 
He pointed out key measures to stabilise cement price this year, focusing on expanding production, ensuring stable supplies, investing in clinker factories, and managing distributors to prevent hoarding and stockpiles. Besides, the ministry will request the Government to reduce import tax on clinker. The local demand for cement is predicted to increase to 25.5-26Mt up by 10-12 per cent this year or while the local production capacity is about 23.7Mt.