Colombia sees 16.4% rise in cement demand

The Colombian cement market increased its demand 16.4 per cent YoY to 0.919Mt in April, latest figures from the country's statistics office, Dane, reveal.

Key players in the April rise were builders and contractors (35.3 per cent share), concrete companies (19.1 per cent) and retail (9.3 per cent). Geographically-speaking, major rises occurred in Cundinamarca, Antioquia and Atlantic departments.

The country’s cement manufacturers produced 0.888Mt of cement in April 2013 – a 4.2 per cent YoY increase.

However, for the first four months of 2013, cement shipments fell by two per cent to 3.341Mt as the retail segment took an eight per cent hit. Output fell 3.9 per cent.

The May 2012-April 2013 rolling year saw a 1.9 per cent decline in production to 10.786Mt.