Peru dispatches rise 16.5%

Shipments of cement in the Peruvian market totaled 5.2Mt between January and July 2012, a 16.53 per cent increase over the figure recorded in the same period in 2011 (4.48Mt), reported the Association of Cement Producers (Asocem).

During the same period production was 5.3Mt, representing an increase of 15.55 per cent over the same period of 2011, when it totaled 4.6Mt.

Exports reached 76,058t of cement, reporting an increase of 175.99 per cent over the same period in 2011, when they were of 27,558t.

Total shipments in July (domestic  plus exports) reached 5.3Mt, a figure that shows an increase of 17.51 ??per cent over the same period of 2011, when they totaled 5.5Mt.

Cement deliveries in the Peruvian market rose 2.42 per cent last year, after standing at 8.3Mt.

Scotiabank Peru analyst Pablo Nano said the increased production of cement in the country is due to the dynamism of the construction sector, thanks in part to advances in the housing sector. He also pointed to the recovery of public investment in the country.

"The construction sector led the growth of the economy in June and is expected to do the same in July, it is anticipated that it was the fastest growing in the month," he said. The construction sector is estimated to have expanded 25 per cent in July.

Nano stressed that cement production hit a record 800,000t. He added that in order for consumption to continue its recent momentum, the construction sector needs to expand 12 per cent this year and that this projection could soon be revised upwards.