Vietnam is estimated to have produced 22.5Mt of cement in the first five months of this year, down 7.2% from a year earlier, the government’s General Statistics Office (GSO) said in its monthly report.

Production in the month of May is estimated to have reached 5.5Mt, up 5.5% YoY.

The GSO has also revised down Vietnam’s cement output for the first four months of 2012 to 17.1Mt from a previously estimated 17.8Mt.

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 55-56.5Mt 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.