Mexico's Cemex has begun construction on a new US$55m cement grinding plant in Nicaragua, the company said in a statement.

The new grinding plant will boost cement capacity in Nicaragua by 440,000tpa and help to meet rising cement consumption. The country's cement has been boosted by the need for more housing and infrastructure development.

Cemex said the new plant in Ciudad Sandino, on the outskirts of the capital Managua, will eventually include two grinding mills and is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.