Colombia cement consumption slips in May

Colombia’s cement demand slipped by 0.3 per cent in May, driven by a decrease at retail level. Distribution to builders and contractors as well as ready-mix companies, according to the national statistics office Dane.

In Córdoba, Bolívar and Atlantico cement demand advanced 3.4 percentage points. Bogotá, Nariño and Cesar recorded the largest declines, well below the national average, at -15.5, -38.2 and 20.5 per cent, respectively.

Output from the country’s cement plants increased by one per cent YoY to 0.929Mt.

In the first five months of the year, shipments were down 1.5 per cent and output fell by 2.9 per cent.