Vietnam exported 8.38Mt of cement and clinker worth US$355m in the first four months of this year, up 41 and 43 per cent in terms of volume and value, respectively, the General Department of Vietnam Customs said.

The total included 6.2Mt of clinker and 2.2Mt of cement, the department said on its website Tuesday.

In April, the country’s cement and clinker exports fell 4.4 and 5.3 per cent, respectively, from March to 2Mt worth US$84m, comprising 1.5Mt of clinker and 500,000t of cement.

In 2013, Vietnamese firms exported 14Mt of cement and clinker, rising by 6Mt from a year earlier. However, last year’s exports could only help reduce the volume of cement inventory, not contributed to the state budget.