Around 11.2Mta of grey cement was produced in Colombia in 2013, mainly due to a boost in the market from social housing construction, according to DANE, the national statistics office.

“It was a very good year in dispatches and production, driven by buildings and infrastructure,” said Sandra Forero Ramirez, president of the Colombian Chamber of Construction (Camacol). In addition, the retail channel also pushed figures up as housing and self-construction improved.

Of the principal cement companies in the market, Cementos Argos accounted for 5.2Mt or 46.4 per cent of total output. The company reported revenues of US$4.96bn, three times as much as Cemex Colombia, which registered sales of US$1.76bn. With sales of US$709.792m, Holcim took third place, followed by Tequendama with US$92.627m