Mexico's cement industry will register between 4-5 per cent growth for 2003 based on increased demand from housing and public infrastructure projects, industry analysts and company officials were quoted as saying in newspaper La Reforma. Demand for cement registered increases higher than GDP growth, which means in general it was a very positive year for the construction sector, and we hope 2004 will be at least equal to this, Cemex will post roughly 3% growth for 2003, considering the country's heavy rainy season last year hindered business, a company official is quoted as saying. The company sold some 450,000t of white cement and 30Mt gray cement in 2002. Cement companies Apasco and Cementos Chihuahua will register 3.5 per cent and 16 per cent increases in sales volumes, respectively. "The sector also benefited from development in real estate works and tourism," Apasco communications director Carlos Moran was quoted as saying.