Vietnam Jan-Feb production down 14%

Cement production in Vietnam is estimated to have reached 7Mt in the first two months of this year, down 14 per cent YoY, data from the government’s General Statistics Office (GSO) said in a monthly report released today.

In February alone, however, production is expected to have reached 4.1Mt, up 20.7 per cent from the same month of last year.

However, the GSO revised down the country’s cement production from an estimated figure of 4.2Mt to 2.9Mt.

For full year 2012, output is forecast to reach 73Mt due to the additional operation of eight new cement plants with a combined capacity of 6.9Mt. However, consumption for the year is predicted to be 60Mt, accounting for 86 per cent of the sector’s total production.

Therefore, these new plants are expected to present big challenges for cement producers, according to Vietnam Cement Association Chief, Nguyen Van Diep.

Source: Vietnam News Brief Service