Cement producers in Vietnam are estimated to have made 17.8Mt of cement in the first four months of this year, down 6.6% from a year earlier.

In April, the country is likely to have produced 5.7Mt of cement, up 2.7% YoY, the government’s General Statistics Office said on a monthly report released late Wednesday.

In 2011, Vietnam produced and sold 49.3Mt of cement. The country also imported 1.15Mt of clinker and exported 5.5Mt of cement and clinker during the period, the Ministry of Construction said.

Vietnam’s cement consumption is forecast to reach between 55Mt and 56.5Mt this year, rising 11% and 12% from a year earlier, respectively, the ministry noted. However, country’s cement output is expected to rise to 73Mt this year due to the additional operation of eight new cement plants with a combined production capacity of 6.9Mt.