For the first six months of the year, Vietnam sales were 22.68Mt, according to latest data from the Ministry of Construction (MoC). The amount represents 46.8 per cent of the full-year target, the MoC added.

Output stood at 24.7Mt, making up 44.1 per cent of its whole year target.

In June, Vietnam’s cement output stood at 4.3Mt, down 14.51 per cent from May. The country’s domestic cement sales also plunged in the period due to the rainy season in the southern region.

With overcapacity plaguing the industry, exports have become of increasing importance and in the first half of this year Vietnam achieved US$82.29m from exporting cement and clinker, meeting 41.5 per cent of the full year target.

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