Cement producers in Bolivia expect domestic cement demand to grow by 6-10 per cent in 2014. Last year, consumption reached 3.3Mt and sources at Fancesa said cement demand is forecast to be higher this year.

The departments of La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz comprise around 75 per cent of domestic demand.

In 2013, Soboce sold 1.55Mt of cement but the company said that sales during the first quarter of this year were affected by heavy rains. Between January and May 2014, it produced 590,000t. Itacamba’s output reached 140,000t and the firm, whose main market is Santa Cruz, anticipates an increase to 190,00t of cement.