Vietnam cement sales down 1.7 per cent in first four months

Vietnam cement sales in the first four months of 2013 fell 1.7 per cent YoY to 14.45Mt, the Ministry of Construction (MoC) has said.

Sales in the first four months represent 29.8 per cent of the full-year target, the MoC added. Cement production during the period was 15.53Mt (meeting 27.7 per cent of the full-year target).

In April alone, cement sales reached 4.87Mt while production was 4.99Mt.

A total of US$21.6m on cement imports between January-April, down by 22.3 per cent YoY. Meanwhile, cement exports in value terms stood at US$43.9m, down 18.1 per cent YoY including US$7.1m in April.

Vietnam’s cement sales are expected to rise by 4-5 per cent YoY to 56-57Mt in 2013, including 48-49Mt of domestic sales and 7.5-8Mt of exports.