Vietnam first-half output seen down

Vietnam produced 27.3Mt of cement in the first half of this year, down 5.9 per cent from a year earlier, the government’s General Statistics Office (GSO) showed.

During June, the country produced 5.5Mt, an increase of 15.8 per cent YoY, the GSO said in its monthly report.

The office has also revised down the country’s output during the January-May period to 21.8Mt from a previously-estimated 22.5Mt.

Last year Vietnam produced and sold 49.3Mt of cement. It imported 1.15Mt of clinker and exported 5.5Mt of cement and clinker during the year, according to Ministry of Construction figures. This year, consumption is forecast to be between 55-56.5Mt, representing an 11-12 per cent YoY rise, according to ministry estimates. Production, meanwhile, is expected to rise to 73Mt with eight new cement plants with a combined capacity of 6.9Mt becoming operational during the year.