Peru: exports offset domestic sales slip

Peru’s cement market remained stable in October as domestic sales slipped slightly from 967,000t in October 2013 to 965,000t, according to Asocem, the country’s cement association. However, local producers saw a more marked YoY fall in output from 944,000t to 983,000t.

The modest loss in domestic cement sales was successfully compensated for by a 50 per cent YoY rise in cement exports as cement manufacturers delivered 30,000t across the country’s borders. In addition, they also saw clinker exports take a leap to 98,000t, from 31,000t the previous month and from zero in October 2013.

The latest batch of figures sees the accumulated domestic sales for the first 10 months of 2014 rise 1.4 per cent YoY from 8.73Mt to 8.853Mt. Output in the 10M14 rose from 8.897Mt to to 9.09Mt, up 2.2 per cent YoY. Moreover, the export markets have provided an additional rise in volumes with cement exports increasing from 169,000t to 242,000t in the 10-month period. This year has also seen the appearance of clinker exports which accumulated to 366,000t by the end of October.