Vietnam cement sales rise 9% YoY, Jan-May 2013

Domestic cement sales in Vietnam rose nine per cent YoY in the first five months of 2013, pointing to signs of economic recovery thanks to government measures to stimulate the housing market.

Latest data from the country’s Ministry of Construction said that domestic sales by local producers totalled 19.15Mt during January-May 2013.

The country also produced 23.8Mt of cement between the period, fulfilling 41 per cent of the whole-year target, including an on-year rise of 19 per cent in May.

The higher sales are a signal of economic recovery thanks to government’s stimulation packages to support the real estate market, Vietnam News Brief Service quoted Le Van Toi, director of the Building Material Department, as saying. It also signals an increase in demand for other building materials in the construction season, he added, noting that many cement producers have had difficulty buying clinker for their production in the first half of May as domestic demand surged.