Philippines: cement sales rise 11% in 1H15

Cement sales rose steeply in the first six months of the year behind robust construction activities in the country, the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) said.

CeMAP president, Ernesto Ordoñez, stated total cement sales rose 11.1 per cent to 11.91Mt in the first half of the year from 10.72Mt in the same period in 2014.

Ordoñez said construction activity remained strong in the first semester, fuelled primarily by the growing business confidence in the country.

“As shown in the President’s speech [Monday], there are very good signs due to good governance,” Ordoñez said. “Weather was also, exceptionally good [in the first half]. There were some rains but generally weather cooperated very well,” he added.

For the second quarter, CeMAP said cement sales reached 6.21Mt, 12.5 per cent higher than the previous year’s 5.52Mt.

“In the first quarter, cement sales grew only 9.6 per cent. In the second quarter, it was 12.5 per cent. It was because government accelerated its spending in the second quarter,” Ordoñez said.

The government, for its part, has been increasing the budget for infrastructure to address gaps and support economic growth. Last year, total cement sales reached 21.3Mt, 9.6 per cent higher compared to 19.44Mt recorded in 2013.