Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance's Pricing Management Department expects cement prices to remain stable this month following September’s increase, local press reported.

Some companies operating under the country’s largest cement producer, Vicem, raised prices by 5-9 per cent a month ago to VND1.3m-1.5m/t (US$61-71) in the north and VND1.6m-VND1.8m in the south. Vicem chairman attributed the hikes to higher production costs due to higher electricity prices.

Cam Pha Cement Company, for example, raised its cement prices by VND100,000/t in September – its first increase since the end of 2011. Higher coal and petrol costs also contributed to the price hike, Hoang Xuan Vinh, the company’s general manager said.  (Source: Vietnam News Brief).