Peru: market expands 1.35% in 1Q14

In March, the Peruvian cement market remained broadly stable from 815,317t in February to 814,495t, according to domestic cement association, Asocem.
 
Output from local producers increased 1.4 per cent from 832,275t the previous month to 844,301t and exports rose 8.1 per cent from 15,349t in February to 16,599t.

Between Jan-Mar 2014, cement shipments in Peru totalled 2,453,948t, a YoY increase of 1.35 per cent.

Production in the first quarter of 2014 reached 2,501,997t, slipping by 0.07 per cent from 2,503,842t recorded in 1Q13.

In Jan-Mar, exports reached 49,168t, falling by 10.93 per cent from 55,204t in 1Q13.

Maximixe analyst Pablo Otero said that the 1Q14 results reflected the continued slowdown in the sector.

"On part of the public sector, there has not been a single big project in the first quarter that generated greater demand for construction input," he said.

During this period, the private sector has sustained growth by implementing homes, offices, hotels and shopping centres.

However , he added that the measures restricting mortgage lending have led to a lower growth of housing sector.

"For the second quarter a similar downward trend is expected, however, in the second half of the year a greater recovery is forecast," he added.