Cement sales by Vietnamese cement producers in the first four months of the year totalled 21Mt, up 20 per cent from a year ago and fulfilling 34 per cent of the 2014 target, according to data from the country’s Ministry of Construction (MoC).

Of the total, 15.5Mt were sold domestically while about 5.5Mt of cement and clinker were exported.

In April, cement sales climbed by 11 per cent YoY to 6.05Mt, thanks to the implementation of state budget projects such as hospitals, schools and resettlement areas.

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

Local distributors have reportedly increased cement prices by 15-20 per cent to cover rises in transport costs. The Ministry of Transport has tightened control on the weight of vehicles to ensure road safety.