Cement dispatches in Colombia saw a 5.5 per cent YoY expansion to 1.09Mt in October 2014, according to the latest data published by Dane, the country’s statistics office.

While construction companies and contractors consumed some 7.3 per cent less, this was offset by a 13.4 per cent sales advance in the retail segment.

The department of Nariño saw an 86.1 per cent rise in sales, followed by Magdalena which registered a 24.5 per cent increase. Positive developments were also reported in Cesar (+13.1 per cent), Atlántico (+9.9 per cent), Bogotá (+9.1 per cent), Cundinamarca (+8.4 per cent), Meta (+8.3 per cent) and Antioquia (+4.5 per cent)

Output by Colombia’s manufacturers experienced a 2.3 per cent advance to 1.073Mt in the same period.

In the first 10 months of 2014, dispatches rose by 10.7 per cent YoY to 9.945Ma with the retail segment registering the largest increase of 12.8 per cent, followed by ready-mix companies which saw a 10.7 per cent larger take-off. Construction companies and contractors increased their requirement by 5.5 per cent.

Magdalena experienced the largest hike with 31.7 per cent, followed by Norte de Santander (+27.4 per cent) and Huila (+22.9 per cent). Double-digit advances were also made in Cundinamarca (18.4 per cent), Antioquia (14.2 per cent). In sharp contrast, Córdoba saw its market contract by 23.2 per cent.

Cement production in the 10-month period rose 10.5 per cent to 10.185Mt when compared with 10M13.