Philippine cement sales rise 7.1% on stronger government spending

Cement sales in the Philippines increased by 7.1 per cent to 14.9Mt from 13.9Mt in the same period of last year, according to the country’s cement association, CeMAP.

According to Ernesto M Ordonez, president of CeMAP, a rise in July-August sales were driven by higher government spending (especially by the Department of Public Works and Highways), an increase in business confidence and a generally strong economy with good growth.

The group added that the expansion in construction projects will help the cement industry grow in volume. Philippine infrastructure spending is expected to grow this year as the government has budgeted around PHP299.4bn, around 2.5 per cent of the country's GDP for projects.