Vietnam’s domestic sales declined by 18.6 per cent YoY in the first month of this year to 2.93Mt due to subdued real estate activity, the country’s Ministry of Construction (MoC) has said.

Exports during January 2014 totalled 820,000t, including 170,000t of cement, the MoC said on its website.

Vietnam’s cement sales are predicted to rise by 1.5-3 per cent YoY to between 62-63Mt, including 48.5-49Mt of domestic sales and 13.5-14Mt of exports.

Last year, companies in Vietnam sold 61Mt of cement, rising by 13.9 per cent YoY and exceeding the whole-year target by 7.5 per cent, including 47Mt of domestic sales, up 3.4 per cent YoY and 14Mt of cement and clinker exports, rising by 6Mt.