Colombian market grows 14.7% in May

Dispatches and output of cement in Colombia rose by 14.7 and 15.3 per cent, respectively in May, according to domestic statistics office, Dane. May deliveries reached 1.034Mt while production rose to 1.071Mt.

Sales in Norte de Santander lead the market expansion, rising by 46.3 per cent, followed by Cundinamarca (30 per cent), Atlántico (23.8 per cent), Antioquia (20 per cent) and Bogotá (15 per cent).

In the year to date, sales have increased 12.2 per cent to 4.772Mt while production rose by 12.6 per cent to 4.926Mt when compared with the same period last year.

Norte de Santander saw the largest advance, with sales increasing 51.5 per cent. Dispatches in Magdalena rose by 33.9 per cent, in Huila 27.4 per cent, Cundinamarca 19.8 per cent and Antioquia 16.2 per cent. Market expansion was more modest in Valle del Cauca (8.3 per cent) and the capital area of Bogotá (7.5 per cent) while Córdoba registered a 31.4 per cent drop in sales.